Almost Faded forms part of Lucien Smith’s Rain Painting series that literally replicate the falling of rain in their execution. The paintings are carried out by firing paint at the canvas using a fire extinguisher filled with a careful formula of acrylic and water. The resulting effect, similar to that of Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings, presents a mixture of the pre-empted and the unexpected. The recognisable projection of biological elements onto a canvas forms the perfect environment for symbolism and implicit meaning. 'The Rain paintings in my head serve as backdrops for situations between people and/or objects, very much like backdrops in a play. They become activated when something is placed in front of them; only then do their scale and size come in to effect.' (A. Simpson, Rising Artist Lucien Smith is Making it Rain, Bullett, 27 September 2012)
The paintings are introduced as catalysts, inspiring the consideration of nature in relation to art and the creative process. The paintings are also designed to trigger an emotional response in the viewer, highlighting the intrinsic qualities of rain and falling with the notion of solitude and isolation within the multitude. 'When I was looking through comics, I’d run across the same image of characters trapped in the rain. It’s like a universal symbolic image of being sad and alone.' (Lucien Smith and Bill Powers, purple NEWS, 2012)
Almost Faded reflects this sentiment in its colour palette. Executed in light blue to allude to fragility and vulnerability. This particular lot evokes a strong sense of nostalgia whilst still possessing a comforting quality it its unassuming simplicity and aesthetic unity. The work is intimate in its secrecy yet universal in shared experience: both enveloping the viewer in a sense of the collective and stimulating them to consider and develop their own personal insights and experiences.
