David Iain Brown’s work is evocative of Germano Celant’s vision of Arte Povera, and the idea of the artist as an individual devoted to the “self-projection of human activity”. Indeed, Brown’s work involves a performative reflection on the creative process. Often using found objects from his own, and other artists’ studios, he explores the artistic process, and in turn, the life of artists. Brown seemingly comments on artistic intention, through the use of reclaimed objects from other artists’ studios, and through a process of layering (and thus erasing) of his own work. This process of layering, simultaneously hides and reveals his artistic process through layered blankets of colour and through creating intricate layers of line and form, one on top of another. Through this technique the works each communicate a play between past and present. Brown’s eclectic use of materials, moreover, explore the dynamic interaction of medium. His use of found objects, layers of paint, and exploration of texture, produce a dynamic and tactile aesthetic, exploring the depths, and indeed meaning, of artistic creation.
