Colin Lawson is interested in the extended life of painting. Through collaborative projects with musicians and artists, he utilises tools such as file sharing, sampling and projection to research the variant applications of painting and the space it can occupy in contemporary art.
Surface is the subject matter of Lawson�s painting. Subtlety is a primary concern; a principle influenced by his fascination with ambient music, in particular its ability to envelop the listener without drawing attention to itself. From the early experiments of John Cage through to Brian Eno and present day recordings by Labradford and Marconi Union, Lawson has been searching to find what might be considered a visual equivalent of this remarkable music. It is not his intention to illustrate this music however. The compositions are informed by responses to repeated notes and subtle variations in texture. The gradual introduction of stronger rhythms and the smaller, hidden sounds which surface periodically. His aim is to create an unobtrusive form of painting which will encourage attention rather than demand it.
Lawson�s painting animations are a means of connecting his work with the music that informs it. The animations are created from manipulated photographs of paintings which are then digitally animated to evolve over the course of the track.
