In the art studio, something has shifted. It could be a small change or something big that opens up new possibilities. It’s too early to tell, but the artist feels it deeply and needs to express this through their work. This exhibition, titled “Walkabout MONOCHROME III: Thank You Gravity,” explores the idea of gravity and how it affects shapes and forms in art.
When we think about gravity in a painting, we start to notice how shapes have weight. Some shapes float lightly in the air, while others crash to the ground. Some stand still, and some swirl and dance. Picture a pile of rocks: they can be beautiful, but they also remind us of how fragile life can be. We all know what it feels like to fall, whether it’s tripping over our feet or taking a tumble from a bike. The artist respects gravity, feeling its pull, just like how a drop can draw someone closer, almost hypnotically.
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A few months ago, some art students visited the studio. The artist shared their journey through different styles and over the years. They explained why they usually paint flat on the floor rather than leaning a canvas against the wall. The flood of paint would roll off, and the artist had a distinct style, preferring the drips that come from flinging paint on the ground. But curiosity sparked when one student asked, “What if you painted vertically?”
So, Zander Blom decided to try. They set a canvas upright and began to experiment. To their surprise, they found the vertical drips created effects they truly loved. After the students left, the artist dived deeper into this new technique, using soaked cloths to create softer gradients and beautiful transitions in color. It brought a fresh sense of movement to their paintings, some feeling calm and others chaotic, all connected through the dance of gravity.
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As the artist looked around their studio, they realized that for the past twenty years, gravity and depth have played essential roles in their work. From circles in linocut to black shapes in old photos and the textures on linen, each piece connects through the idea of weight and space. The artist never felt drawn to the idea of pure flatness in art. Instead, they breathed life into their works by embracing gravity and its effects.
