John Sillince

When I paint I try to avoid concrete thoughts or ideas, in order to catch images that float into my head. In this way I free my mind so that the world appears full of possibility; nothing is fixed; everything is mysterious, as if seen by a child, for the first time. Then from this mass of unconscious images I select one image that makes a direct emotional impact on me but also one which I don’t understand, one that has no easy, rational or conscious explanation.

I exaggerate this personal experience by using thickly painted bodies in a spontaneous way. I pour everything expressive into the flesh, where the painting is most alive. I use rearrangement, reversal, skewed perspective, contrast and magical realism to suggest fluidity, surprise and possibility.

The aim is to express my topsy-turvy and unstable perception. Doing this enables me to focus on my own body’s experience of seeing, feeling and questioning the world. These qualities of creative openness motivate me towards adventurousness and curiosity and spur my personal development.