2023 Art AuctionX CROSS- Mat Tonelli and James John Small
MAT TONELLI JAMES JOHN SMALL
JULY 10-31, 2015
OPENING RECEPTION
JULY 10, 2015
7PM-10PM
Mat Tonelli and James John Small, both dealing in constructs of moments and the sublime, find new ways to push paint in directions that follow the footsteps of Abstract Expressionists, as well as drawing elements from those considered New European. The two have many dissimilarities in their process and inspiration, but their work somehow intersects at a point, which led them to collaborate not only in a joint show, but in the execution of works of art as well. If you wanted to label these works, you could call it landscape painting; a spontaneous, organic and fitting subject matter they showcase in X CROSS.
The plane we see into on the surface is a moment of tranquility and chaos, a meditation of the awe of man in the natural world. The beauty of landscape, a base for subject matter is the reflection of what is relative to a certain individual.
While Tonelli uses form, color and shape to influence the creation of a scene, Small uses images, whether it be his own or a historical documentation, to direct the flow of his work. Often starting using washes and drips of paint, Tonelli allows the medium to dictate action from the beginning and mechanically fills space with patterns, a perfect counterpart for the tedious carving that Small employs. The two intersect at a point where they are bound to nothing but the aesthetic.