Way and Weighing: Abstract Painting

Abstract

The thesis Way and Weighing: Abstract Painting explores the concepts of time, place and contemporary abstract painting as experienced through my current studio practice. It reflects on the process and thought involved within the body of paintings that will form my Master’s thesis graduating exhibition entitled Way and Weighing.

“Way and Weighing” is the first line of a poem written by philosopher Martin Heidegger, entitled “The Thinker as Poet” (1). Heidegger relates the process of thinking to his observations of nature, and alludes to the nature and process of thinking itself: its dangers, failures and timely process. To me, it echoes the practice of art-making itself. It evokes a metaphor between action and thought, being and painting. “Way” also echoes “The Way”, an expression frequently referring to a spiritual path, or simply "way" referring to the “way” things are done, approached, seen – an angle, or a perspective. “Weighing” brings to mind choosing, balancing elements in painting, or “weighing” ideas and values. My paintings are a way of weighing action and thought in the process of abstract painting.