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period.” The attempt to portray three-dimensions within a
flat space, absent of the illusion of perspective, remains
a common aesthetic in Sewell’s work. His figures, made
of flat planes, seem to be in a state of flux, reaching out
or moving away from the viewer’s vantage point. His art
is usually created with one color of spray paint on a softly
tinted sheet of paper. The interplay between the green, red,
blue, or yellow paper and the color of the spray paint create
a variety of hues within the work. It is this simplification of
the palette that allows Sewell’s audience to focus on the
forms within the work, twisting and unfolding figures or
portraits. He fashions interesting cutout shapes and places
them over the paper to create a negative space as he
sprays around them. The areas are allowed to present the
color of the paper or are later covered over by subsequent
applications of paint. From this process, a figure is born,
often with outstretched limbs and highly emotive facial
expressions. “So much of the work deals with formal play
—improvisation with rotation, proportion and composition,”
explains Sewell. “The formal elements of my work lead to
larger questions which deal with how to represent nature,
and to find solutions to what seem to be limits in the
representation of nature.”
His work has been influenced by his love of experimentation;
Sewell has collaborated with many other artists and also
non-artists, including scientists. Extensive travel around
Asia has influenced Sewell’s worldview and creative life. He
presently resides in Shanghai.
Website: www.Art-Mine.com/ArtistPage/Daniel_Sewell.aspx
PP Chop’d & Screwed (9) Spraypaint 30” x 20”
The formal elements
of my work lead to
larger questions
which deal with how
to represent nature,
and to find solutions
to what seem to be
limits in the representation
of nature.
Daniel at Work
65 ArtisSpectrum