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The Jack Tilton/Anna Kustera Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by Chris Finley from October 19 through November 16, 2002. Finley’s recent paintings originate from downloaded digital photographs taken from bridal gown and taxidermy internet site searches. Using a graphics program, the elements within the photographs are vectored, dragged, copied, rotated and stretched until the final image displays an ambiguous image that no longer resembles its source, but takes on the appearance of a monstrous creature. These images are then transferred directly to canvas in a slick fashion enabling a chunk of virtual reality to be hung on the wall.
.....Finley then manipulates his virtual paintings with various elements from the “real or physical” world , making the paintings appear as if actual events within the gallery or somewhere else in real space have affected the virtual layer of the paintings. “Malardbridecreature with Snail” is a triptych whose virtual composition appears to have been dramatically altered by the slow and deliberate movement of a snail from one panel to the next. “Octolarvabridesmaidcreature, (Tug of War)” pictures a creature-character playing tug of war with itself.
“Octolarvabridesmaidcreaturepolar-coordinate, (falling)” is a small virtual painting that appears to be falling forward from the wall. The illusionary motion allows a view of a hidden painting behind a secret wall suggesting an alternate reality between the virtual and the real
