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- Darren Flood
Darren
Flood
Equilibrium
“Art once made a cult of beauty, now we have a cult of ugliness instead. “Since the world is disturbing, art should be disturbing too! Those who look for beauty in art are just out of touch with modern realities.” Sometimes the intention is to shock us, but what is shocking first time round, is boring and vacuous when repeated.” – Roger Scruton
Darren Flood takes a disciplined approach to his practice, traditional forms fundamental to Greek and Roman ideals apparent in Classicism and Naturalism is rooted into the core of his work. With reference to Plato’s theory on forms, Flood works from easily recognized ideals of physical beauty within the human figure and incorporates elements of expressionism for a unique take on traditional portraiture.
Flood’s practice focuses on the variability and utility of the oil paint medium. Taking inspiration from his contemporary expressionistic peers, he explores the medium in order to express movement, mood, gesture, and harmony that aims to satisfy the sensory aesthetic.
Flood uses Taoist principles as a guideline for his methodology in order to keep his paintings invigorated by switching in and out of the state of flow. By alternating from states of intense concentration and relaxed tranquillity, the painting manifests itself in equilibrium between realism and expressionism.