POLITICAL CONTOURS
GRANT INNES

My current work is a poetic juxtaposition of political images. I create background patterns using imagery derived from contemporary political issues. These patterns are executed in silkscreen inks on paper then fused to canvas, creating a formal repeating pattern that is reminiscent of vintage wallpaper.

On the silkscreen background, I over-paint black silhouette images of George Washington. These elegant and noble political contours find their inspiration in statues, paintings and stories that are part of the collective American consciousness, images that reflect this nation’s sense of itself. These paintings examine the myths around George Washington that shape the understanding this country has about its own moral identity.

There are images hidden in the pattern of the background that reveal themselves upon second glance. These patterns are created from current media images that when repeated hide themselves within the larger pattern they create. This fusion of historical and contemporary create a tension and a dialogue that resonate with the current geopolitical issues we are dealing with as a society.

This work marks a stylistic departure for me. My move to NYC from Canada in 2005 has had a transformative effect on my work. These paintings are my contribution to the ongoing discussion that shapes this strong and powerful nation.

The concepts for these paintings are developed with the use of Photoshop and Illustrator while the final images are completely made and constructed by hand.