Ecosystems
A solo exhibition of new work by Thomas Watkiss
February 8th - March 8th

After a nearly decade long hiatus, Thomas Watkiss, most known for his work as an experimental sound artist, marks his return to painting with Ecosystems- unique fusion of visual and auditory expression. In an amalgamation of memories, dreams and ambient field recordings, the artist creates foreign atmospheres built from a range of scenes reflecting biodiversity and personal experience. 

Over the course of his career as a sound artist, Watkiss spent lengthy periods of time recording place-specific rhythms in the secluded natural environments of Northern Iceland, Sweden and Southwestern Pennsylvania. For this exhibit, snapshots captured during field recordings are re-created with oil and acrylic, in an alluring blend of idealism and realism. Radiant colors fields and sequential patterns are interlaced with symbols of finality and transformation while opaque agricultural landscapes are contrasted with metallic scenes from dreams, inviting the audience to partake in a memory-based journey where reality and imagination converge.

In addition, a collection of audio recordings, some from nature, some addressing the audience directly, are paired with individual works providing viewers with an opportunity to see into the mind and through the eyes of the artist.

About the Artist:

Thomas Watkiss (1979, USA) is a multi-disciplinary artist perhaps most known for his ambient record releases. He has released five full-length recordings and performed across the United States, Scandinavia and Continental Europe. The artist currently lives and works in the South Williamsburg neighborhood of New York City.

Watkiss constructs work with a range of objects and instruments including bass guitar and field recordings. The releases are paired with his photography and prints, giving the listener an intimate visual setting to the roaming ambient soundscapes.

Opening Reception February 8, 2019: