Carlson Hatton
Region: Pacific Coast
My work slips between representation and abstraction, exploring
the limits of our visual language and presenting the layered
complexity of our environment. I’m interested in subjects that
cannot be captured in a single frame, such as the symbiotic
relationship of place and figure or the passage of time.
Most of us discovered complex configurations of space within
cartoons long before learning about cubism. I’m drawn to an
aesthetic where scale relations are secondary and fights are
visualized through tumbleweed-like formations of swirling fists,
feet, and occasional bottles. I’m fascinated by the visual leap
required to process such visuals, and I wish to challenge what we
accept as an accurate reflection of our reality. Capturing what one
sees is a nearly impossible task; I find a stronger sense of realism
in a description that includes passing thoughts, fragments of
conversation, and a subconscious that bubbles up and informs
all that we process. My work reflects a world that asks to be
deciphered or reconstructed, one that celebrates the joyous
psychedelia of everyday life.