(born London in 1970)
‘Vienna’, 2008, titled, signed and dated Jason Martin 08 on the reverse and with directional arrow, oil on aluminium plate in aluminium frame, 150 x 270.5 x 10.2 cm, framed, (PS)

Provenance:
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris – acquired directly from the artist in 2008

Jason Martin’s works subscribe to the Western tradition of gestural painting. First of all, Martin applies saturated, monochrome colour on mirroring aluminium, stainless steel or translucent plexiglass panes. Then, the artist pulls large brushes, which he specifically creates for each painting according to the width of the canvas, across the whole pastose surface, without interrupting the movement. Depending on the chosen background, application of colour and brush, very different wave-like movements emerge, in which the brush stroke itself creates the motif.
The brush stroke is at times smooth, at other times abrupt. The material is partly subtracted, letting the support shine through in some areas between the grooves created by the brush strokes and comb-like striations. The three-dimensional effect of the combed structure is highlighted by means of shimmering effects combined with light-deflecting edges and crevices, giving the viewer a thoroughly sensual impression of materiality.

Every object is ultimately created from a mixture of chance and will and, as such, cannot be reproduced. Similarly, the objects suggest individual, irreproducible illusions and associations to the viewer, to the effect that the painting background is reactivated with every movement.
(Adams, Brooks, Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection; Royal Academy of Arts, London, 18.9. - 28.12.1997, London 1997, n. p.) “I explore a space that leads the viewer to an illusionary encounter” (Jason Martin, 1998 in: Gisbourne, Mark: Jason Martin Malerei; Städtische Galerie Nordhorn, 30.5.-16.7.1998, Nordhorn, 1998, p.36)