Bryce Elischer
This body of work is about exploring how we perceive time and experience, and the act of spectating. Something that has always fascinated me is the nature of an experience; what it means to be fully present in the moment, removed from time and existing in what is seemingly infinite in that one moment. The Greek word ‘Ekstasis’ is defined as a state “to be or stand outside oneself”. Ecstasy derives from this definition and in Heidegger’s book ‘Being and Time,’ the definition includes that one can be “outside of oneself” in relation to time. Drawing from my experiences as a surfer, I wanted to portray those instances in which I felt removed from time and myself. The concept of spectatorship is another facet I’m exploring with this work. By depicting figures viewing and observing surfing they are relating the experience to themselves, creating a shared experience between subject and observer. For me painting is about the process itself. I don’t put an emphasis on the end result, rather I embrace the experience and try to remain in a state of growth and change. I feel my work is evidence of an investigation, of a process that led me through experimentation and new approaches.
