Expressionistic Art

Expressionistic art is the distortion of objective perspective in order to convey the inner thoughts and feelings of the artist. Characterised by a saturated and vibrant palette, loose textured brushwork and non-naturalistic subject matter, expressionistic art subverts the representation of reality to evoke emotion.

Often considered to be pioneered by Van Gogh as an extension of Romanticism, Expressionism was an avant-garde movement embraced by the likes of Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch and Georges Rouault at the turn of the twentieth century. The long reach of Expressionist art spanned on throughout the 1900’s in Europe with the art of Frances Bacon, Henry Moore and Anselm Kiefer, and famously evolved into Abstract Expressionism in America with the paintings of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, amongst others. By the 1980’s, Neo-Expressionism sought to revitalise expressionist painting internationally as a reaction against the minimalist and conceptual art that was begining dominate the late twentieth century. Today, expressionistic art lives on in painting, collage, photography, print and sculpture, with subjects ranging from animals to architecture, nudes to nature, and seascapes to still life’s.

If it’s a portrait painting you’re after, the work of Philip Tyler is a good place to start. Tyler’s expressive block work combined with his original use of perspective makes for wonderfully intimate paintings that that take on a new form of portraiture. Satoshi Dáte’s bold and atmospheric use of colour echoes Tyler’s palette, however Dáte’s paintings simplify the nude form to present the space between reality and non-reality. In his painting Play Dáte outlines the figure with a subtle glowing shadow to confront the viewer with the direct nature of the face staring out of the canvas.

Rise Art’s collection of expressionistic animal artworks include the majestic equestrian paintings of Zil Hoque. Hoque depicts colour in movement, and revolts against “passive” colour, claiming that “it has to move, illuminate and intrude our physical space”. Hoque works with earthy colours to present fleeting movements of motion. With his Fulcrum series, Joque presents sculptural quality of horses, whilst basking each subject in a golden light.

Elizabeth Bond’s prints are cut from discarded wood she finds around London, cut and shaped to create detailed monochrome pieces. With Temple Elephant Bond brings the subject matter forward, and illustrates the elephant from a head on perspective to address the viewer. Similarly, Lan Zhaoxing rejects colour to focus on the essential form and shape of the subject, creating honest and mesmerising depictions of animals.