Oliver Marsden
As a painter, Oliver Marsden‟s (b. 1973) practice involves an acute attention to the mode painting acts. In his work, the artist evokes the image of the radiation of light, the way a drop of water forms concentric waves by falling in a liquid static surface. The visual balance and tension of his work stimulates what Marsden calls a „state of resonance‟, a „humming‟ sensation. This is achieved through the process of layering and revealing each application of paint in the material realisation of emitted sound waves, producing what the artist has termed a “liquid speaker”.
After travelling to Mexico, the focus of his research shifted from the study of light and water to the worship of these elements. Marsden discovered that several mexican native cultures, as the Huichols still believe in two opposed cosmic forces: an igneous one represented by Tayaupá, "Our Father" the Sun, and an aquatic one, represented by Nacawé, the “Rain Goddess". His works explore the mysticism and the power of invocation of the circles and colour.
Inspired by the qualities of his materials, by light, water and sound, he creates „liquid sculptures‟. Paintings whose visual balance, and perceived nature coexists in a continual flux. His seemingly simple paintings achieve a „psychedelic minimalism‟ and engage the viewer into looking from a somewhat oblique perspective, wherein the works develop their own affects, viewing itself becomes part of the creative process. His works experiment with what he calls “a universal visual language”, referring to Joseph Beuys‟ belief in human creativity.
documents to download
Oliver Marsden Media Monitoring: Scotland on Sunday
Oliver Marsden Media Monitoring: Zing Magazine