David Uessem is known for painting with a gripping forcefulness in an extraordinary fashion. Portraits and suggestive narrative scenes are the hallmarks of his artistic work. The aesthetics of David Uessem’s creations are distinctive and unparalleled.
He positions his subjects up close, thus with a strong presence. They are commonly larger than life, so that all the details of the models can be observed: every pore, each facial hair, or the threads and quality of a fabric. He emphasises the extremes in the art of painting in an illusionistic manner.
With the help of specific techniques he succeeds in bringing the contrast between illusion and reality into being. The canvas as the dividing line between the spectator and the work of art is accentuated, through the blurring of specific details or by working with a palette knife – a dynamic scene emerges from the static image. The interactions of these contrasting techniques create immanent tensions, which convey an exceptional and subtle glimpse into reality.
David Uessem focuses on snapshots of everyday life. Selected elements like water or other liquids stress these sceneries, when they are for example flowing over a model’s face and eyes. Split seconds are being captured on canvas. These situational perceptions combine with washy and blurred elements in his paintings to create vivid moments.
Images courtesy of David Uessem
Discover: uessem.com | www.markransom.co.uk
