G A L L E R Y

ben stack

G A L L E R Y

‘In Sotto Voce’
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
140 X 120 X6 cms. Framed.
Available for purchase : $5880 (AUD)

$5880

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$4704

I’m not sure if other people have ever thought about this, but…I believe that there are similarities in the expressive qualities between visual and auditory forms of art.
With this idea in mind, to interpret this painting using principles of musical composition becomes an attempt in music analysis and appreciation. For example, the large dark form which occupies the top-center of the painting could be heard as a deep bass note over the ultramarine and turquoise blended background. A fabulous solo instrumental in vermillion is featured underneath the bass with smaller, regular drum-beats syncopated horizontaly. While making this painting, I was conscious of colour, tone, cadence, volume, shape, counter-point and rhythm.
(which are also terms used to describe a piece of music), and how to arrange them in a harmonious, expressive way.
The title ‘In Sotto Voce’, is translated from Italian as ‘In a Quiet Voice’, when someone is speaking or acting in a quiet or understated manner, often to avoid being overheard.
This painting is made with the best materials, the highest quality oil paint, ‘Old Holland’, and Matisse Dervain, the best acrylic paint on the market.

‘Ascender’
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
170 x 140 X 6 cms. Framed.
Available for purchase: $8330 (AUD)

$8330

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$6664

Sometimes a painting takes a lot of effort, changes of mind and revision, before it reaches anything near to completion.
This painting is not one of those. From the beginning, everything went well. I remember being in a state of flow.
Every mark, every gesture felt right, with no doubt. Every choice of colour and tone needed no second decision.
It was painted after a trip to Queensland, in the tropical far north of Australia. I was trying to express the feeling of being immersed in the pristine ocean waters of that wild, untouched envoirnment.
As the eye of the viewer moves toward the bottom of the painting, the colour and tone gradually deepen, suggesting a sensation of decending into a tropical ultramarine / turquoise ocean. In the stillness of the depths, vivid flashes of yellow, orange and vermillion streak past, maybe a life-form reflecting colour against the darkness…The paint is applied very quickly here, adding to the speed of their passing. From the center of the painting, there is an amorphous shape emerging toward the sunlight above. It has a gleaming upward thrust, like an ascension from the depths of the ocean to the warm air above. This white ‘presence’ is flanked on both sides by organic shapes…some kind of mangrove vegitation,
dangling on the surface of the water.
The scale of this piece (170 cms or 5.5 feet) contributes to the convincing feeling of immersion in a tropical ocean.
It is stretched on the finest cotton duck tripple primed canvas imported from Belgium,
I use oil paint made by Old Holland, and Matisse Acrylic Paint (which is the best on the market).

‘The Illusion of Knowledge’
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
150 x 120 cms. Framed.
Available for Purchase : $6300 (AUD)

$6300

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$5040

By definition, an abstract painting does not represent anything in the physical world, ie, an object or a person or a place. And even though it was not my intention, a lot of people see this painting as a landscape. The dynamic black shape layered over the ochre, sienna and chrome oxide background suggest a figure, or some kind of ‘presence’ moving through the landscape. I mixed fine marble dust with the paint, to achieve a textured effect, and I used knives, trowels, and paint soaked rags to apply the colour.

‘Little Diva’
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
90 x 90 x 6 cms. Framed.
Available for purchase: $2835 (AUD)

In this painting, I wanted to express the fabulousness of a famous ‘Diva’ performing for an adoring audience, by using the full spectrum of colour, including black and white.
It brings eccentricity and a radiant light into any room.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present…”

‘Like there’s no Tomorrow ‘
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
140 x 120 cms. Framed.
Available for purchase. $5880

‘Auto da Fe’
Oil and acrylic on canvas.
120 x 110 x 6 cms. Framed.
Available for purchase: $4620 (AUD)

This painting has a vibration emanating from it. The ultramarine and turquoise background suggests an underwater feeling and the gestural brush marks could be brightly colored fish darting past…