Mark Francis (b. 1962)
Untitled
signed, titled, inscribed and dated 'M. Francis 94 UNTITLED 40 INTERIM ART LONDON' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
24⅛ x 17½in. (61.3 x 44.5cm.)
Painted in 1994

Provenance:
Interim Art, London.
Anon. sale, Phillips New York, 14 November 2000, lot 136.
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.

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Specialist Notes:

Mark Francis’ monochromatic oil paintings filled with subtle organic structures are suggestive of biological forms seen through a microscope. Francis’ dry-brush technique, which yields a shiny surface through the careful application of different layers of black, white and grey paint succeeds in giving his compositions a photographic quality. Indeed his paintings do recall microbiological photography for which their origins lie – namely in the artist’s collection of photographs of bacteria, cells and chromosomes. In the present work, the black orbs leave a diffusive trail, suggesting a pulsating movement from within the canvas. With the illusion of movement achieved through blurring and diffusing shapes, the elements on the canvas appear to be floating freely in a liquid surface, reflecting the chaos and order inherent in nature. In this way, intriguing parallels develop between abstract art and scientific imagery.

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.