MICHAEL BECK
Artist Statement
As a Photorealist I tend to view painting as journalistic: attempting to report what is seen precisely and accurately. The objects I paint are chosen for their sense of use and wear. They display an inherent biography or story. Typically the items are obsolete, outdated remnants of our culture that in their heyday were heralded as desirable. By placing them on a stage, brightly lit, I am putting them back in the spotlight to be examined, questioned and judged. They are once again a celebrity given a second chance to take the owner/viewer on a journey. The work invites viewers to conjure up narratives, even fantasies, of their own design, and the starting point is likely to be a shared memory of childhood or and idealized version of Americana. But the imagery calls for a deeper exploration of its meaning because by isolating the object it becomes decontextualized; asking the viewer to consider it as a thing of curiosity on its own. Many times viewers' stories will bring new insight about what an object is and how it can be seen. I give the objects drama and fresh animation through the use of light, shadow, and color. Those features are what the work is truly about. On the canvas is a record of the decisions that led to the creation of the image. My hope is that the viewer is brought down into the landscape of color and application that I experienced while producing the piece.
