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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSkydwellers, 2018, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, graphite on paper, 22.5 x 29 in<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giffin\nleverages stories to drive his personal creative process. One or more invented characters\nare the genesis of the artwork. From these fictional minds, all other elements\nin the piece arise as imagined interactions, communications, or daydreams. An\nartwork develops as a series of sketches either on paper or as a digital sketch.\nEven as he works on the final piece, the details continue to evolve, and more\nemerges in the process of drawing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From our\nperspective as viewers, the paintings invite a narrative interpretation, but remain\nambiguous and open ended. We\u2019re drawn in and encouraged to stitch all the\nelements into a story of our own personal interpretation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The works are intricate and precise. Fields of bright colour and crisp lines interlock over the surfaces like the parts of a fine mechanical watch movement. I thought at first the graphics might be computer generated, but on close inspection I saw the markings of craft: a combination of painting and drawing. Several of Giffin\u2019s pieces are offered for sale both as originals as well as limited edition reproductions. The Helio Gallery specializes in prints and photography and this graphic style of work lends itself well to this treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTravelogue, 2018, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, graphite on paper, 20.5 x 38 in<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I noticed that much of what I saw in these pieces was based on what I unwittingly projected onto them. The first image I saw was in the poster of the show: Travelogue<\/em>. I saw it in the middle of a busy day. My impression was of claustrophobia and pressure. There were menacing faces \u2013 like a crowded elevator; compressed and harried urban crowds. The red colour remained dominate in my memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, when I\nlater saw the original in the festive context of the gallery opening, it had a\nvery different effect. I saw the characters and faces as joyful. I also noticed\nthe water, the leaves and the little duck at the bottom of the frame. All these\nfeatures had been there all along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The meaning\nof the image that I saw mirrored my state of mind. Much of the power of this\nwork comes from this characteristic \u2013 its reflective nature. What we see is not\ninherent in the piece. It is rather a reflection of ourselves. The constituent elements\nof a story are provided, but the meaning depends on what we weave out of these\nelements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversation, 2018, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, graphite on paper, 21.25 x 56.25 in<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a few\npieces, Giffin has reduced the palette to black and white while maintaining the\nintricate narrative aspect. In Conversation<\/em>, the artist describes a\ndiscussion between three people. The imagery gives some hint as to what it\nmight be about, but as in the case of a partially overheard conversation, we\nare left to wonder what might actually be being communicated. We can\u2019t help but\nproject our own guesses as to the particular dialog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n