STEVEN DaLUZ

VOYAGER

Artists Statement

I am compelled to do work that conjures up a sense of mystery and ethereal light, whether figurative or abstract. My interests are evenly split between the two. While identified more with abstract works that are often landscape-referential, employing a process using metal leaf, chemically-induced patinas, oil, and other mixed media, I also consider the figure as endlessly relevant, with inherent potential for poetic introspection. Landscape, spirituality, and the figure all serve as inspiration for me. Collectively, my work often reflects upon primal questions about origins, the expressive beauty of the human figure, the aesthetic power of light moving through an imagined atmosphere, and the sublime. In my search to find a genre that best describes my work, I've chosen the term, “Neo-Luminism. Like the "Luminist" style of the mid-19th century, for my purposes, "Neo-Luminist" art concerns itself with the glowing effects of light.

WINDOW

It differs, in that "Neo-Luminism" does not necessarily concern itself with traditional landscape, does not rely on the masking of brushwork, nor is it overly concerned with detail. While it may share a feeling of tranquility, calm, and the sense of light piercing a soft, hazy "sky", Neo-Luminist" works may also be dramatic and turbulent. It normally has aspects of ethereal light, and hazy atmospheric qualities. It may also be present in figurative works, so long as reflective properties of underlying surfaces are exploited to convey the effect of light. My intention is not literal narrative. Instead, I strive to evoke a feeling within the viewer. As Magritte aptly said, "People who look for symbolic meanings fail to grasp the inherent poetry and mystery of the image." My artwork need answer no questions, present a political position, nor expound upon a narrative. For me, the pure "beauty" or personal aesthetic of art need not explain anything. At its best, the raw image alone can be enough to pose questions and ignite the imagination of the viewer.

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