In the Storm of Roses by Steven Tutino
Underwater Dream by Steven Tutino
Fragments by Steven Tutino
Artist Statement
These art pieces are inspired by the works of Paul-Émile Borduas with an emphasis on the thickness and texture of the white as the texture and landscape of consciousness itself - this layering upon layering of white as a kind of blank space upon which fragments of blues and reds and yellows threaten to emerge, are splayed out throughout the landscape of the psyche.
Underwater Dream however, was produced in 2016 and can be considered as part of my juvenilia. In that piece, and from what I can remember at that time, I was more interested in geometrical composition – squares and rectangles which act like blocks in themselves. The composition is spiritual and transcendent; out of chaos emerges order. With my palette knife I am free to invent and create but I don’t really know what I’m doing until I begin to see a pattern emerging. I follow my instincts, what my mind and heart are telling me; something inside of me demands expression.
Fragments and In the Storm of Roses clearly demonstrate an evolution in my artistry, though not a full-blown departure thematically and stylistically. In the latter, I take the geometrical compositional approach in Underwater Dream the next level by integrating numerous colors together, a testament to the freedom of human consciousness and a kind of perceptual openness.
In the Storm of Roses was taken from a poem by the same name by Ingeborg Bachmann who writes “Wherever we turn in the storm of roses / the night is lit up by thorns ...”. It is a self-referential declaration on the nature of love and artistic creation, as well as pure elemental indulgence into the pure sensory bliss of color and fleeting time and elemental space. Fragments captures, as the name suggests, the fragmentation of consciousness. Whereas I’ve always felt limited with brushes, the palette knife allows for amazing freedom and dexterity.
Underwater Dream certainly foreshadows these two latter paintings from 2019, but throughout all three pieces my concern has always been with the richness and vibrancy of color and the artist’s ability at integrating different colors together. My concern has always been and continues to be the spiritual dimension of art. The artist embarks on a spiritual quest of redemption and salvation – it is the search, ultimately, for something bigger than themselves. It is in and through art that the artist is saved. Art is a carrier of theological meaning and these three pieces are expressions and revelation of the inner life of the spirit – pure transcendent bliss.
The Artist
Steven Tutino was born in Montréal, Canada, and is a writer, poet, painter and personal trainer. He is currently a graduate student at Concordia University in the process of completing an M.A. in Theological Studies.
His poetry has appeared in Concordia University’s Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, The Paragon Journal, Halcyon Days, Perspectives Magazine, Founder’s Favourites and Anapest: A Journal of Poetry Excellence. His artwork has appeared in numerous journals and magazines including The Minett Review, TreeHouse Arts, Montréal Writes, Spadina Literary Review, The Montréal Gazette, From Whispers to Roars, The Indianapolis Review, After Happy Hour, Apricity Magazine and Apricity Press.
Apart from painting, Steven enjoys reading, writing in his diary, going for long meditative walks and hanging out at the gym.
Steven Tutino, Montreal, Canada