Christian Fagerlund
Christian Fagerlund
I am driven by the subtleties that rise when things settle, whether in a landscape, an interior space, a human body or face, or the inert objects around me. A great deal happens in these moments of stillness where time seemingly expands, self-awareness gives way to a more natural state of contemplation, and initial impressions are followed by waves of illumination. I capture the subtleties of light, color, form, expression, and mood that are born out of this settling.
In my figurative work, I am first and foremost attracted to form—the ways in which light interacts with, enhances, and plays against it. Light is an equal participant: a clear and assertive entity. A love for this relationship between light and form, a strong sense of design/composition, and an understanding of the power of color, are at the core of my process. And throughout, each element, from the mole on a subject’s arm to the relationship between two adjacent colors, is given vigorous attention.
Scale is also an important aspect of my work; I tend to work either very small or very large. The intentional shift away from a "normal" scale dramatically affects the content and experience of a piece. My small-scale figure paintings concentrate subject, light, and color to create an intimate encounter for the individual viewer. My large-scale pieces, which project themselves outwardly, allow viewers to wholly take them in from a distance, or to become absorbed by their materials and marks up close.
Regardless of my subject matter or approach, I purge the frivolous in order to create a distilled and sense-based interpretation of my subject: one that is honest, nuanced, and considered.