Pareidolia

Pareidolia

Seeing faces in abstract places. A collection of works from Shaun Burner.

Gallery

Exhibition Dates: November 20, 2023 - December 14, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 30, 6 pm - 8 pm

Artist Statement

par· ei· do· lia ˌper-ˌī-ˈdō-lē-ə -ˈdōl-yə : the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern.

Ever since I can remember, I have been haunted by the entities that present themselves in my waking and subconscious mind. Beings that would show up in a pile of clothes across a dark room, or in a tree’s foliage drifting in the wind. As a child they frighted me, as they always seemed to want to communicate something with me, but the ominous feeling overwhelmed me. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned to fully embraced these moments, when I’m blessed to catch a glimpse of such company. As I feel like they are my ancestors, or other dimensional forces speaking to me.

This body of work is a culmination of a few styles I have explored over the last couple of decades. There was a time within my practice that I would start with an idea of a finished piece. This approach is very much the opposite. I start these works without knowing the figures that decide to show up. First, laying down abstract line and pattern work, or organic fluid strokes. it is very much about being present, executing each line with the best intent, but continuing even if it’s not perfect. At a certain point, I step back, and I study the composition, and let it tell me the narrative. Many times, this results in a deep subconscious descend, which is both cathartic and revealing inward. I then proceed with fully elaborating the narrative and entities that present themselves.

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