The Aesthetica Art Prize 2016 Countdown: 12 Days to Go – Painting

The Aesthetica Art Prize 2016 Countdown: 12 Days to Go - Painting

The Aesthetica Art Prize celebrates contemporary projects in a wide variety of mediums, from drawing, painting and photography to sculpture, installation, video and performance. With 12 days to go until the Art Prize call for entries deadline, we take a look at Gareth Jenkins’ painting, which was longlisted in the Aesthetica Art Prize 2015.

Gareth Jenkins’ abstract, geometric practice is concerned with the reduction of concept, and how line in its simplest form can be used to convey a sense of the object, while asserting spatial structure within a non-figurative format. From this perspective he has tried to control the paint’s natural need to flow and continues to create paintings that discuss the difficult task of creating sharp edged lines out of a liquid substance. Colour field theory also plays a crucial role in his work. The grounds of Gareth’s paintings are carefully treated, cut from MDF and more recently plywood, meticulously prepared and sanded so that the application of paint is smooth and effortless, each particular section previously mapped out with masking tape along linear, mechanized shapes where the maximum thought process is reserved for this initial preparatory stage. Repetition, simplicity and a reduced, almost minimal palette are prerequisites.

For more information visit www.garethjenkins.info.

The Aesthetica Art Prize is a celebration of excellence in art from across the world. It offers both emerging and established artists the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience. Prizes include £5,000 Main Prize courtesy of Hiscox, £1,000 Student Prize courtesy of Hiscox, a group exhibition in partnership with York Museums Trust, publication in the Aesthetica Art Prize Anthology, editorial in Aesthetica (186,000 readership worldwide), art books courtesy of Prestel, and art supplies vouchers courtesy of Winsor & Newton.

The annual award is open for entries until 31 August. Register your artwork at www.aestheticamagazine.com/art-prize.

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Credits
1. Gareth Jenkins, P.Y.B., 2014. Courtesy of the artist.