Nicholas Evans

"Auspice" (Abstract, Colorful, Textured Skull Painting on Antique Wood, 65x50cm)

2020

LE CRÂNE 2020 Paris, France A faint gesture of a skull, ‘le crane,’ lives on a pale pink background, and interacts with other abstract detailing, creating movement and tension. Evan...

THE OCCUPANT 2020 Paris, France A smaller work done in parallel to a complimentary piece ‘WOMBS, TOMBS, TOOLS,’ which portrays hand-painted serif typeset words ‘THE OCCUPANT.’ A ribbon of black along the base of the work hosts a line which reads: “The offices in the desert vending out futures -- if you had gotten a good one you too would want them all to know -- where our bodies have been.” The work is a commentary on the spaces we inhabit, and how they are all temporary. Paint is acrylic with the exception of the red elements, which are formed with oil paint. The painting is executed on two connected, reclaimed wood panels...

Drawing inspiration from the ancient Roman term "Los Osculi," translating to "right to kiss," the artist delves into a compelling exploration of the past's intriguing customs. In ancient Rome, women were prohibited from drinking as it was believed to lead to adultery and even possess abortifacient properties. Consequently, the husband and male family members of an "honest" woman possessed the right to kiss her on the mouth to ensure her sobriety. The allure of fleeting kisses, whispers of scent, and the sensuality of suspicion captivated the artist's imagination. On an antique French canvas...

The canvas comes to life with a captivating yet understated painting, heavy on texture, using antique linen, crafted with a unique blend of dye, pigment, and acrylic. The artist's su...

Bold yet delicately portrayed, "So Plant, So Animal I" is an abstract piece framed to perfection, offering a timeless neutral color palette. The central theme captures the essence of...

Bold yet delicately portrayed, "So Plant, So Animal II" is an abstract piece framed to perfection, offering a timeless neutral color palette. The central theme captures the essence o...

Pyre VII 2017 India ink and acrylic paint on charred birch plywood 32" x 24" x 1.25" Pyre VII is part of a series of charred panels Watson completed in 2017 at the Arts, Letters and Numbers Residency in Averill Park, NY. The pieces incorporate local materials, rice, and fire to create charred photographic images on plywood that explore themes related to being, substance and imperceptibility. The imagery references the practice of cremation on a funerary pyre in which the corpse is prepared and burned over a construction of combustible materials. Within the work, rather than destroying the body, the fire produces an afterimage that remains indefinitely. Each day Watson would scavenge the site collecting natural objects, such as sticks, small rocks, and other detritus. He laid these objects on the surface of the plywood with raw rice. The surface was then charred using a propane torch. After the objects and rice were removed an image of them remained, like a photogram. In some panels, He incorporated a homemade black rice ink or various paints to tint the surface before and after burning. Rice is a recurring theme in Watson’s work. It alludes to an uncontained body in the process of decay, returning to the earth to become a source of sustenance for new life. It also imagines the soul extending beyond its fleshly container. The act of burning attempts to capture the space between life, death, and rebirth— freezing it in a state of transformation. The sticks, stones, and rice become remnants of life and markers of space and time. They are more than mere grains and detritus. They become the body as a trace of what was and a reflection of what will be. Michael Watson...

Acrylic and India ink on wood panel Work done with the compass Signed on the back

Acrylic and India ink on wood panel Artwork done with a compass Black exterior frame Framed dimensions: 134 x 64 (x5)cm Signed on the back

Acrylic and India ink on wood panel Artwork done with a compass Black exterior frame Framed dimensions: 150 x 101 (x5)cm Signed on the back

Acrylic and India ink on wood panel Artwork done with a compass Black exterior frame Framed dimensions: 074 (x5)cm Signed on the back

Acrylic and India ink on wood panel Artwork done with a compass Black exterior frame Framed dimensions: 104 x 54 (x5)cm Signed on the back