Molly Champlin

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My art explores the disconnect from the physical world caused by a deepening reliance on technology. Presently, the primary subjects of my paintings are abandoned and outdated technology: old TVs, circuit boards, recycling centers, junkyards, and cluttered storefronts. In a culture increasingly shaped and fed by technology, what we collect, consume, and then dispose of is an indication of what we value, and how shallow that value is. My representational paintings and prints are intended to provide a critical perspective on a consumerist relationship with technology and information.
I use painting as a metaphor for the digital experience to compare the way art and computers deliver information. My paintings are full of seemingly random bits of information, details that can be read as meaningful, like reflections in glass diffracting into discrete colors and shapes, or blades of grass jumping out at you. These details represent the information accessible through digital tools. In order to balance the sense of anxiety caused by an overwhelming amount of information, I add small surreal elements to my paintings. Through these hidden characters, jumbles of shapes, or alien looking text, I add humor and a reminder of human creativity.
My paintings start from original photographs in order to impress the reality of forgotten subjects. Marks of age and use on objects are expressed as eye-grabbing colors, clear brushstrokes, or thick paint. Like looking at a brightly lit screen, my paintings are visually stimulating. But unlike images moving quickly across a screen, these paintings linger, posing the problem of stuff that has come to the end of its lifespan.