Anthony Chapman

Statement

Art

I am committed to the belief that one must become an artist each time one begins to work. Art, then, is not so much in the idea, but in the execution of that idea. Each painting is therefore a search for meaning what is the purpose of art in the 21Century?

Stylistic variations are the result of a reluctance to impose anything that might get in the way of the individual painting; in the same way that Stanislavsky counsels the actor to get out of the way of the character, the artist must set his ego aside, indeed, he must give up all social and career ambition.

Self-expression is kept to a minimum, as far as that goes, self-expression ends with the choice of image. Besides which, there is an inherent problem with self-expression; beyond a few core values, the self is malleable, this is why one must become an artist every time onesets to work.

This is an almost impossible task.

The Paintings

Many of the paintings have a thread of violence running through them, whether its the insincerity of the politicians eyes, and the free pen, suppose to elicit our votes, in Electioneering.

Or, Nude in a Shop Doorway, a prostitute, literally cut from the street and held up as ...