Robin Clare Contemporary Artist

Taking my inspiration from urban environments, I look for subjects that tell a story about the time or place in which I live. I work mainly from drawings and images I take of impermanent situations that I come across on a daily basis. My subjects are chosen initially for their humour and visual impact. But, underneath the surface is a reflection on society. Of particular interest to me in this series is the relationship between affluence and waste.

The discarded or found objects I choose to focus on have the ability to appear both humorous and vulnerable when taken out of their normal environments and ejected into the outside world. They work as a rough survey of modern tastes and trends, representing the impact of mass consumption; they also work as a metaphor for homelessness and remind us of our impact on the world.

To produce my work I employ a number of different techniques and approaches including line drawing, stenciling and painting. The choice of technique is dictated by the way in which my subject communicates with me. I enjoy using bright acidic colours and strong visual lines as a tool to create a sense of installation and drama on the canvas. I am also influenced by the visual language of advertising and surface design, which comes through in my visual aesthetic and use of pattern.

The products of my work are vibrant, graphically influenced images of discarded objects and passed over situations. It is intended that these images appeal on both a visual and intellectual level inspiring the viewer to experience the world in a different way.