By Ariana Luca
ARTIST STATEMENT
"This series of works on paper reflects and explores the process of constructing a non-representational painting. Each work is formed through intuitive mark-making that can appear both spontaneous and carefully considered. In this process, gestures that are created initially through chance are repeated and morphed in later works, creating an iterative and continually evolving practice.
In these works, both watercolour and oil paint have been used to explore the practice of creating an abstract composition over time. While oil paint can be applied quickly and spontaneously, it is slow in its drying process and therefore requires a sense of consideration and patience. The artist must wait in order to apply the next layer to the work, or choose to leave the composition as is. Watercolour instead demands decisiveness, as the paint dries as soon as it is applied to the paper. While the gestures may still be slow, they cannot be covered in future layers. In both mediums, the abstract composition forms over time, and traces of the first compositional instincts peek through future artistic decisions and gestures. Iterations of new forms, shapes and abstract compositions are collected and repeated. The viewer may be able to glean the artist’s initial gestures, or they may be hidden under layers of processes unfolding."
BIO
Ariana Luca is a visual artist from Melbourne, born in 1995. She studied Fine Art at RMIT University, graduating with First Class Honours in 2017. She has exhibited in galleries in Melbourne, Geelong and Tasmania. Ariana's work aims to capture the intuitive process of constructing an abstract composition over time. She works primarily with oil and watercolour, exploring how painting and drawing can reflect an artist's decisions, movements and gestures.
