For the first time, the exhibition “Fighting for Self-Control” by British artist J. JAMES is being showcased at Flipper Art Space. The exhibition will be on view until September 3rd, 2025.
ABOUT J. JAMES
ARTIST STATEMENT
For me, art is primarily a medium communication; a mode which allows us to express the ineffable, or that which language struggles to describe. I strive to express not just emotion, but also my thoughts and ideas through my painting. The act of creating art thus, therapeutic and documents my personal and emotional development.
Although my work is broadly abstract and minimalistic, I never start creating with a look or a style in mind, but rather from a concept which I often express as a poem initially. My poetry is then sometimes presented explicitly on the canvas, sometimes not. This is an important part of my process, as my aim is to communicate an idea. So, the form of my art follows the function in order to clearly communicate the intended concept. Beauty for beauty’s sake is never the aim.
My influences are diverse and pertain to different elements of my work: Rothko for emotional expression; Lichtenstein for finish; Monet for use of colour, Banksy for communication; the Bauhaus School for shape and composition; Plato, Hume and Wittgenstein for philosophy; Shelley, Wordsworth, Allen Ginsberg, and Mike Skinner for language.
It is my hope that the ideas expressed through my work will resonate with others in a way which allows them to clearly understand what I am saying and to then apply it to their own thoughts.
