Eliot Allsop
Intriguing modesty
"It looks like a photograph"; is the first reaction of many people when they see the work of Eliot Allsop (London, 1968). But on closer inspection it appears to be a sublime graphite drawing. Allsop starts with an empty piece of paper, that is being filled by subsequent layers of black and grey tints. In this way a certain representation slowly arises. The final result is fantastic, drawings so subtle, so serene, people almost fall silent. Allsop creates a sober and modest, but intriguing world.
Light and layers The work of Allsop consists of several layers of fixed graphite, carefully built up, trough which the final deep and jet-black colours arise. These dark pieces, mainly background, are the most difficult to draw, require great skill. The technique of spreading the graphite equally over large surfaces resulting in an even dark background is extremely hard to master. It's this tone that gives the drawing power and the objects their depth. The objects seem almost to disappear in the jet-black colour, but in combination with the soft, subtle grey tints Allsop knows how to let the light play with the objects. It appears as if the light flows over, and slowly reveals the contours of the object being drawn.
Promising talent Allsop knows a variety of subjects. He knows how to put an interior full of character to paper, with often a person on the centre stage. Besides that his still lives are a gratification for the eye. Eggs, bowls and dishes are drawn in such a way that they seem to flow from the paper. Allsop is English, but for several years now he lives and works in Holland. He's a young but promising artist and Gallery Honingen will certainly display more impressive work from him in the future!
