“But every seed is useless if it remains as it is, if it does not decay and become black; because corruption always precedes generation. It is this way that Nature proceeds in all its operations, and when we want to imitate it, we must also blacken before whitening, without which we will only produce rejects.”

La Lumière sortant par soi-même des Ténèbres, Carrelage


Viewing the work is witnessing a protracted collision of processes. An evolution of matter. Exposed, concealed, exposed, concealed - continuously. The consequence of years spent. My history merging with the history of the elements used.

I have no interest in illusionistic ‘texture’ – the work must be its own entity – have its own story. Be its own statement. It is an organic object - a living thing.

Histolysis – tissue breaks down, material metamorphosis’s, through chaos and control. Destruction, erosion, decomposition - detritus leads to new creation. The work carves its own path, moved by forces beyond my hand and control, like rock moved by an unhurried glacier.

I would like to think that my paintings at their best, allow me to contemplate a cycle of existence. Not a beginning with an end but a journey where genesis leads to dissolution, and on once again to genesis. An ongoing sequence beyond mortal confines. Something eternal. Alchemy.


Richard Nott, 2014

Histolyis I
mixed media on block panel . 246 x 200 x 16 cm





Histolyis II
mixed media on block panel . 123 x 200 x 16 cm





Histolyis III
mixed media on block panel . 123 x 200 x 16 cm





Histolyis IV
mixed media on block panel . 123 x 200 x 16 cm





Histolyis V
mixed media on block panel . 124 x 124 x 12 cm





Loess
mixed media on floated panels . 32 x 32 cm each





Isthmus I
mixed media on block panel . 47 x 47 x 6 cm





Isthmus II
mixed media on block panel . 47 x 47 x 6 cm





Isthmus III
mixed media on block panel . 47 x 47 x 6 cm





Isthmus IV
mixed media on block panel . 47 x 47 x 6 cm





Moraine I
mixed media on block panel . 100 x 100 x 6 cm





Moraine II
mixed media on block panel . 124 x 124 x 6 cm





Excision I
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision II
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision III
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision IV
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision V
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision VI
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision VII
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision VIII
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision IX
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Excision X
mixed media on floated panel . 48 x 48 cm





Detritus I
mixed media on block panel . 91 x 91 x 6 cm





Detritus II
mixed media on block panel . 91 x 91 x 6 cm





Dissolution I
mixed media on floated panel . 61 x 61 cm





Dissolution II
mixed media on floated panel . 61 x 61 cm





Dissolution III
mixed media on floated panel . 61 x 61 cm





Dissolution IV
mixed media on floated panel . 61 x 61 cm





Integument I
mixed media on floated panel . 107 x 107 cm





Integument II
mixed media on floated panel . 107 x 107 cm





Integument III
mixed media on floated panel . 107 x 107 cm