artist statement

archie veale

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My work is a personal narrative exploring the themes of self examination,personal knowledge, choice, destiny and escape. I tell the story through recurring surrogate figures, alternating between antagonist and protagonist embodying various abstractions.

The narration reflects my own spiritual beliefs: GodÕs revelation of himself to man, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgment of the just and the unjust. The figurative elements are influenced in style by Rivera, Kollwitz and Tooker,while the compositions and somewhat theatrical staging are inspired by Giotto, Von Stuck, and El Greco. Some of the work tries to combine the drama, emotion and stark tonal elements of German Expressionist printmaking with the epic and poetic qualities of Symbolism.

The relationship of the figures illustrate the larger themes of oppression and rebellion, loss and hope even apathy -- but never innocence. Most of my works are organized into short series with each series becoming a chapter in the larger narration. I am trying to make art that invites the viewer to identify with the symbolic characters and be changed by their relationship with them.