Joe Warrior-Walker

Joe Warrior Walker is interested in how an image works when reduced to a level that oscillates between abstraction and figuration. A point where an image can exist on two levels, simultaneously. The inspiration for his paintings comes from the landscape. They derive from the rural areas of his childhood in Cornwall and his Indian heritage – contrasted with the urban environment of London and his current home in Bristol. The paintings are not directly of these places, but rather an idea of ​​a place. Walker attempts to form an abstract translation of the landscape, a reflection of the way we move through an environment. He has since sought to create work that bridges the gap between these essential movements in painting and a modern exploration of the possibilities of abstraction today. His work deals with formal considerations; "I see colors and processes as subjects for the work rather than just a means to an end".

Within the painting, Walker combines many different materials. He often uses media that repel each other. Diluted acrylic over areas with wood varnish and oil, creates transparency for the paint. A gradual build-up of the surface thus creates a feeling of depth and space. Digital technology is also an integral part of Walker's practice. He works in Photoshop, where he edits large images of current paintings. He then prints sections and collages back into the work. More recently, Walker has used this method in the paintings, further creating a tactile surface that creates a physical depth for the viewer's eyes.