Artist Statement:

Matthew Welton
Artist Statement
Reductio ad Absurdum

What will become of me?

I sometimes allow myself to take in the full extent of the issue, the one that goes beyond what we choose to do. It’s not much of a surprise that our paths through life are altered to some degree by pure happenstance on a day to day basis. If you look back at your own life, odds are that at least a handful of situations will come to mind. Perhaps it was avoiding a serious car accident by moments... The odds are, however, that the majority of these happenstances were much more subtle than that, and whether it was for better or the worse, the consequences of which were either unwittingly avoided or fulfilled.

Nevertheless, people tend to find comfort in believing that, whatever the future might have in store, there is still hope to be found in an individual’s will over his or her own destiny. I like to believe the same, but part of me knows it isn’t that simple. Somewhere in the back of my mind is an unsettling awareness of the subatomic chaos that underlies the reality we take at face value. And if everything is ultimately the product of that which it is made of, I can’t help but wonder.

Background on imagery for the jurors:

This sculpture is a depiction of a super-positioned plane. "Super-positioning" is a quantum physical phenomenon in which a single particle can exist in multiple places at once, or when multiple existences occupy the same space at a given time. The goal was to apply this principle of indeterminism to our daily lives and, as a result, expose the hidden intricacies of causation.

The title "reductio ad absurdum" translates to "to reduce to uncertainty" and is the formal name of a logical fallacy.

Exhibitions/Awards:: Exhibitions

5th Annual Drawing Exhibition (2008)
- Black and White figure Drawings
- Gallery 821, Denver, CO.

Juried Student/Alumni Art Exhibition (2008)
- Mixed Media
- Myhren Gallery, University of Denver, CO.

Student Photography Exhibition (2007)
- Black and white photography
- DU Shwayder Art Building lobby; Denver CO.

Topic: Unconventional Portrait (2007)
- Mixed media sculptures and installations
- DU Shwayder Art Building Lobby; Denver CO.

Public Installation (2007)
- “Do Not Press” sculpture installed for 7 days.
- Located by Shwayder Art Building: Denver CO.

300 DPI (2006)
- Digital media works
- Gallery 023, DU Shwayder Building; Denver CO.

Guest Lecture (2006)
- Lectured an advanced placement art class
- Rangeview High School; Aurora, Co.

Group Mural Project (2006)
- Wall-sized painting based off of digital media
- Installed in the S.A.B. Drawing Room for 10 weeks

Core Art Media Program Art Show (2005)
- Mixed media installation
- DU Shwayder Art Building Lobby; Denver CO

Kaiser Permanente Art Exhibition (2004)
- Graphite and charcoal drawing
- Kaiser Permanente Hospital; Denver CO

Awards:
Harrison Merit Art Scholarship (2007-2008)
Art department Scholarship (2004-2008)