Mat Collishaw Nottingham, UK, b. 1966

Collishaw’s interest in the Victorian era is no coincidence: 19th century Britain viewed itself as a leader in scientific progress and empirical soberness. Referring to this period in his works, Collishaw imitates its ornamental, romantic style, but at the same time sheds light on society’s darker side, where base instincts are inherent in man regardless of the time period or of aesthetic or scientific advancement. His interest in this era is also associated with the study of the early Victorian technique used to create optical illusions. With the help of spectral projections, innovative photography techniques, and zoetropes invented in the early days of the Victorian era, Collishaw recreates effects that underlay pre-cinematic animation.

“My desire is to show the viewer how the time in which we live affects our perception of the world around us. These days, it’s difficult to slow down and absorb imagery of the past. Over time, our perception of paintings changes, not only because they become iconic, but because the media around us has totally changed. We don’t generally stand around looking at a picture that’s not moving, because it’s not that interesting compared to what else is on offer. I’m trying to reintroduce the concept of time to these works, to prompt the viewer to look at each of them a little longer and thus immerse themselves in the history of each picture.”

Mat Collishaw’s works have been exhibited in numerous museums and are represented in many public and private collections globally, including:
Tate (London, UK)
Somerset House (London, UK)
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Birmingham, UK)
Galleria Borghese (Rome, Italy)
Pino Pascali Museum Foundation (Polignano a Mare, Italy)
Bass Museum of Art (Miami, USA)
The Brooklyn Museum (New York, USA)
Museo di Roma (Rome, Italy)
Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris, France)
Museum of Old and New Art (New South Wales, Australia) Olbricht Collection (Berlin, Germany)