Toronto-based painter Caroline Larsen's recent series, entitled Burning Up, features a blazing display of vehicles that have been set on fire. To create each painting, the artist layered colors together into an optical illusion of woven fabric, created by squeezing undiluted oil paints through a serrated tip. Using images sourced from the internet, Larsen chose particular scenes that played along well with her signature technique.
Through the project, Larsen transformed the violent act of arson into a stunning display of color and energy. She says her goal was to create moments where viewers felt as if they were peering into the dark scene, witnessing the chaos of the heat and flames expressed through the thick, billowing paints.
The artist further explains that each piece occupies a space between abstract and representational. At first glance, viewers may not know what the image actually is, however, once the roaring flames and charred vehicles become apparent, there is no going back to seeing the art work as abstract representations.
