A veil of mystery, of intentionally provocative ambiguity clouds the paintings of Iain Faulkner. The representation of solitary figures, still, motionless, caught in the act of contemplation, surrounded by nature or urban scenes, is voluntarily left open to interpretation. Reality is observed, described as in a traditional vanitas painting; however the artist does not intend to examine the ephemeral nature of life, rather these compositions are an invite to pause and reflect. There is no narrative. The white shirt clad male is significantly taken out of his natural context and placed on a beach, loch side or a NY rooftop. These paintings speak of the universal and unchanging where the fleeting moments of a particular twilight become symbolic of a place where the day is over and the night is yet to come. They have the potential to evoke, to suggest something hidden, concealed in the stillness, something that has just happened in the day or is about to happen in the night. The beholder is then encouraged to empathize with the protagonist of the painting, who is at the centre of Faulkner’s psychological investigation.

In this new body of work Iain has moved away from the familiar motives of his practice, the making of each painting a genuine observation and at the same time an allegorical interpretation of reality. This is evident through the imagery employed: the gathering figures being drawn towards the sea – a symbol for desire and self- investigation; the single contemplative figures reflecting on their place in the world; the toasting figures – a poignant reminder of our humanity.

These paintings – with their atmospheric, quasi-real, evocative character – become poetic descriptions of the human condition.

Alessandro Lorenzetti

Iain Faulkner was born in Glasgow. Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 1996 with a BA in Fine Art, he has established himself as a skilled draughtsman with the integrity to embrace the difficult path of contemporary figurative painting, in which competence and painterly expertise can be measured and judged. Still only in his 30s, he has already had numerous successful solo shows in the UK, USA, Spain and Italy. Iain was commissioned to paint the European 2010 Ryder Cup Team member portraits.

Click here to view the European 2010 Ryder Cup Team member portraits.