Marcus Hodge English

Marcus Hodge is a British contemporary artist whose work is known for its vitality and sculptural use of paint. He seeks to evoke an instinctive response in the viewer by using minimal language. Central to his work is the juxtaposition of energy and stillness, where visceral layers of paint interact to reveal a glimpse of what lies beneath.

Different tools such as large spatulas, palette knives and lengths of wood were used to introduce the elements of risk, chance and opportunity. Each painting becomes unique in the artist's search for the unexpected.

With a restrained economy of means, the paintings are less about finish as about the process - a process of not knowing, one that may reveal something you weren't looking for. The picture finds itself in the mysterious and compelling process of being painted.

In the early stages of his career, Hodge initially made his name as a portrait painter. He returned to the UK in 1996 from a rigorous five-year training in classical oil painting in Spain, very much in the vivid Spanish 'Alla Prima' style and within two years, he exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Marcus first travelled to India in 2000 and this was the start of an intense fascination with the country which became the driving inspiration behind his work.

With each solo exhibition which followed, his style constantly evolved to become bolder and simpler as figurative painting gave way to abstraction. The paintings were accompanied by impressionist bronze sculptures, as his interest in this three-dimensional aspect grew.