Uncertainty, both in the process and in the finished work, is the state that drives Scott Bertram’s practice. Searching for both a sense of recognition and yet also a suspension of resolution, Bertram improvises his way through each painting, preferencing curiosity, openness and attention, rather than relying on known strategies and preconceived intentions.

The paintings in 11 Mood explore the slowing of perception and creating conditions where ambiguity and not-knowing are valued. In this body of work, Bertram seeks to emphasize tangible aspects of painting such as material and process but is also interested in exploring the ways in which certainties and interpretation can be subverted – even if only momentarily.

Asking “what is this?” in front of a painting is related to not-knowing and is a way to undo what we think we know about the painting and perhaps also, ourselves. This type of experience can facilitate a connection to what is happening in the present moment, and at the same time requires not holding onto it.

These paintings aim to restore space for contemplative looking and attempt to embody a quiet resistance to cynicism. Through these works, Bertram emphasizes interior, subjective, felt experiences, something that is more akin to meditative thinking as opposed to an analytic understanding.

MEDIUM

Acrylic on canvas/linen

ARTIST BIO

Scott Bertram is an abstract painter whose practice centres around ideas of improvisation, finding meaning within unintended stimuli, and playing with the dynamics of perception. He has a BFA from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and an MFA from NSCAD University. He was a finalist in the 12th RBC Canadian Painting Competition and has received many other awards including funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. His work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Canada as well as in the USA, Australia, Mexico, and the UK. Scott Bertram currently lives and works in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.