Artist statement
The subject matter of my recent work deals with ideas of supermodernity, Isolation, and non-spaces. Supermodernity is defined as a stage of society that reflects a deepening or intensification of modernity. Characteristics of this stage of society are attempts to understand, control, and manipulate every part of the human experience. The result of supemodernity shows up in how we construct our cities and spaces. More specifically it shows in our Airports, supermarkets, new housing developments, subways, hotel rooms, motor ways and many other non-places; spaces of transience that are not significant enough to be regarded as a place. Isolation is also an element in my work because the isolation is a result of our impersonal society in many of our cities. We make an effort not to speak to strangers, and pretend we didn’t even see them as we pass through these non-places.
The paintings that I create often have a high amount of tonal contrast and or a use of color theory. I also choose to use this combination to enable me to make a visually striking image. These visual qualities that I work to achieve are influenced by visually striking moves like director Brad Anderson’s The Machinist, or Zack Synder’s 300; movies that have high tonal contrast and a crisp quality to them. Also, video games with this quality influence these visual elements in my work. An example would be the videos in games like World of War Craft.

Courtland Blade
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