Joseph Eggleston

from Processes Intersecting Spaces Program

Digital Dream scape

An avenue of my work uses image stills from film and television to create playful portraiture.

I strive to create a likeness but shy away from exact replication; it isn’t important to me if the viewer knows the source material (although it is fun when people have that AHA! moment).

This idea of valuing likeness over replication made me wonder: what would happen if I manipulated the stills in order to manufacture a ‘scene’ that feels like it is from a film but doesn’t actually exist?

Ultimately, this question led to the larger works in the show. All of these paintings are created from using multiple image stills to make something old anew, like rearranging puzzle pieces. In fact, some sections of the paintings are completely made up but it still captures a feeling of nostalgia and a fondness of where it was derived. I use the long landscape style canvas to recreate the feeling of ‘widescreen’ video format and use figures in different positions to suggest movement. My desire is to try and make it feel like we are peeking in on a moment in time that has been captured with some wild paint strokes.

Maybe by looking at the paintings, you recognize the source material. And it is perfectly OK if you don’t (it may even be better). My hope is you enjoy looking at them to the point that you don’t mind either way.