artist statement
"The subject of my artwork is human consciousness or, more precisely, a lack of consciousness, particularly as it relates to human activity that conflicts with the natural world. My paintings are visual elegies to what in nature is harmed, threatened or lost.
I have affection for the nature of materials, their symbolic content, and the unforeseen potential of combining them in unconventional ways. Waste that references human activity, remnants from nature, and childhood nostalgia are routinely incorporated into the painted surface. Emotional tension between hopefulness and foreboding is sought. And the interpretation of the subject matter is intended to be fluid - open to each viewer’s relationship to symbolic objects removed from their ordinary context.
The paintings are perceived both through the physical senses and the mind: the aggressive "aggregation" of materials is touchable while subtle, nuanced surfaces serve as counterpoints that provoke wonder. Furthermore, the clearly episodic nature of creation serves as a metaphor for multiple, non concurrent experiences with the subject matter finally coalesced into a spiritual and visual world.
I seek to promote an active rather than a passive participant in a visual dialogue providing both visual gratification and existential challenges. I hope that the works raise mindfulness and, ultimately, changes in human behavior that may benefit our humanity and the natural world." David Schuster
To hear David talk about his work click on the video section.