an online project by james davies

Electronica is part of an ongoing area of my practice concerned with the exploration of my work through electronic means. A large part of my painting has always been about rhythm and repetition, and I have frequently used grids and circles to explore this concept visually. I realised recently that the formal qualities of small gif files could be put to use as "building blocks" to examine the visual properties of rhythm (the animation option allows me to do things I could never do in painting), as well as enabling me to create a purely electronic artwork.

The following works exist only in these files; they aren't representations of physical, painted works, and they are not complete if printed out. The arrangements are purely arbitrary and some of the animated files are subject to site specific variations (the browser you use, as well as the clock speed of your computer for example, can have an effect); there is no correct speed for these to operate at.

Click below to see examples; the works are best appreciated in lengthy contemplation... (you can get some pretty interesting retinal afterimages happening if you stare long enough....)