When Everything Stood Still - Limited Edition of 12 Photograph

"Ever since I began painting as a teenager, I have believed that art is defined by its ability to provoke a response – to provoke thought and emotions, and to appeal to the senses and imagination. That is the aim of my work." Australian Patrick Wanis has been creating a body of work for the past ten years that provokes conversation and stimulates the senses by exploring and challenging the connection between our emotions, biases, and deep desires for escape and beauty. Beginning as a teenager painting with oils and inspired by the surrealists and impressionists, Wanis now paints digitally, and with a camera. He creates colorful worlds that transport you into an experience where you interpret what you see, and where he often directly challenges your own beliefs and perspectives. “I have lived by the ocean in 5 countries over the past 20 years, and thus my obsession with water reveals itself in the power of light, shadows and reflections. “My work reflects the intersection of technology, social media and the ‘cultural evolution and regression.’ My passion and experience in human behavior draws me to expose the intense emotions and biases of our world. I want to incite a response from the viewer and simultaneously expose and satirize the conflict of the absurdity and surrealism of our own lives. What is real, what is truth, what matters, what is right or wrong? Are you sure you and your ideas and beliefs are superior? “I use words, images, and color to communicate ideas and emotions (humor, laughter, anger, fear, loathing, validation, et al), challenging the viewer to look down or across from a different perspective. “My digital painting series “Famous Tweets In History” explores and highlights the timelessness of meaningful and controversial words by the famous and infamous, revealing something about them or us, and challenging or confronting our beliefs. Some of those words are real tweets, others are quotes or popular quotes from movies. By painting the Followers as people from all eras, I reveal the significance and/or timelessness of the message and communication. Thus, for me, I care about ideas, emotions, biases, and values. I want everyone to question what they believe. I care about the thoughts and the feelings that those words and ideas trigger in us.