Tim Stoner’s paintings deal with the layering and removal of meaning. His approach draws on a diverse range of sources, from the meticulous restoration techniques of Old Masters to the expressive gestures of 1980s New York graffiti and the intricate beauty of Persian calligraphy. Using unconventional methods, Stoner submerges canvases in swimming pools, pours dissolving chemicals over them, and uses tools like scalpels, sanding discs, and palette knives to distress the surfaces. His paintings take several years to complete: they may start off as a landscape with hints of a blue sky and a horizon, but over time the imagery is largely erased or scraped away and reworked with a litany of calligraphic scrawlings and abstract lines. These acts of erasure destabilize the identity of the paintings, allowing them to hover between unfinished states and final compositions. The result is a visual language that speaks to the temporality and fragility of the image.
TIM STONER (BRITISH, 1970)
oil on canvas
Acquired in 2024
