John Sillince
Degree: BA Fine Art
University: DJCAD, Dundee
Graduation Year: 2023
New Blood Art Commentary
John Sillince is a painter who has recently graduated from DJCAD in Dundee. His paintings seem to launch us into a new dream-like reality, one which is untethered and has no rational explanation. Sillince focuses on creating a world that is full of new possibility and comes from a deep space in his unconscious. The paintings both cause and come from a deep emotional encounter from witnessing the world with an air of mystery and childlike curiosity. He manipulates paint to amplify the flesh and its vitality, making it the hypnotising centrepiece of his work. He plays with perspective and perception to make this new reality full of surprise and instability, allowing the viewer to question their senses and own grasp on reality.
Artist Statement
When I paint I try to avoid concrete thoughts or ideas, in order to catch images that float into my head. In this way I free my mind so that the world appears full of possibility; nothing is fixed; everything is mysterious, as if seen by a child, for the first time. Then from this mass of unconscious images I select one image that makes a direct emotional impact on me but also one which I don’t understand, one that has no easy, rational or conscious explanation. I exaggerate this personal experience by using thickly painted bodies in a spontaneous way. I pour everything expressive into the flesh, where the painting is most alive. I use rearrangement, reversal, skewed perspective, contrast and magical realism to suggest fluidity, surprise and possibility. The aim is to express my topsy-turvy and unstable perception. Doing this enables me to focus on my own body’s experience of seeing, feeling and questioning the world. These qualities of creative openness motivate me towards adventurousness and curiosity and spur my personal development.
Solo Exhibitions
(2022) "From The Inside Out". 3-21 November, Whitehouse Gallery, 1641 Maryhill Road, Glasgow
Group Exhibitions
(2024) “If I can’t stay where do I go?”, 8-12 Feb, Outline Gallery, 5 Lochrin Place EH3 9QX Edinburgh
(2024) Group Show, S. B. Art. 9-11 Feb, London N15 4QN
(2024) Dreamscape, 25 May to 2 June,, The Holy Art Gallery, The Factory, POD 1 , 21-31 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2DA, London.
(2023) Degree Show 20 to 28 May, DJCAD, Dundee University
(2023) “Art as a response to mental health”,, Doncaster Art Fair., Doncaster 2 to 18 June
(2023) "Keeping The Baw Rolling" 2 to 8 August, Saltspace, Washington Street, Glasgow
(2023) "Old Contemporaries" 20 to 23 October, Generator Projects, Dundee
(2022) "Old Contemporaries" Exhibition, 6-11 October,, New Glasgow Society East,, 279-282 High Street, Glasgow
(2022) "I Tickled The Sun", 9-11 December, Forgan Art Centre, Newport On Tay
(2020) "Fugue DJCAD Contemporary Art Practice Student Exhibition", virtual exhibition, artsteps.com
Competitions, Prizes & Awards
(2023) Ian Eadie Award, Dundee University
(2023) Longlist John Moores Prize
(2023) Longlist Visual Art Open Emerging Artist Award