THE GROTTO PAINTING
The Grotto Painting is a 10 panel painting, otherwise known as a decaptych. This complex painting maps the processes of painting, both digital and physical, through its own making process, a combination described as phygital. Each panel combines several layers. First is an under-layer of luminous paint on canvas, used in particular to mimic the luminous qualities of virtual paint. The second layer is made-up of an image of a physical paint palette combined with images of virtual painting, which is then printed onto silk, and stretched over the canvas. The final layer includes the application of oil, acrylic and luminous paint, using a drawing, mapping, and tracing approach.
The silk on panel no.6 remains intentionally unfixed allowing it to be animated by a fan placed above. This curtain treatment refers to the 5th century BC painting competition between Zeuxis and Parrhasius, revealing to the viewer some of it's internal make-up.
The Grotto Painting installation passed through three phases: under normal gallery lighting, with The Grotto Film projected onto the paintings, and under UV light, revealing the paintings luminous layers. These various stages are show below including film clips and close-up details viewable in magnify mode. (scroll left or right)
