When we speak about art with a monochromatic colour pallet, we often immediately think of works in black and white – much like our current show ‘Divergence: Exploring Monochromatic Abstraction.'
In reality, monochromatic art simply refers to variations of a single hue, encompassing an array of tones, shades, and tints that range from the lightest highlights to the deepest shadows. This spectrum of gradients allows artists to fill their works with a richness and complexity that would not be possible with an infinite colour range.
By embracing the monochromatic approach, artists can distil their compositions, stripping away details and distractions to focus solely on the physical elements of the image. This reductionist approach heightens the impact of the artwork as it allows the artist to convey their message or intention with greater clarity and precision.
In essence, monochromatic figurative art invites viewers to engage with the beauty of form and composition without the interference of multiple colours competing for attention. Whether through subtle shifts in tone or bold contrasts of light and shadow, each brushstroke serves a purpose, guiding the viewer's gaze towards the heart of the artwork. Within the focus of a single hue, we are invited to explore the depths of emotion, the complexities of identity, and the universal truths that bind us all together.
Here at RHODES, we have many figurative artists who use a monochromatic colour palette in their works such as Grace Tobin, Cathy Tabbakh, Marius Seidlitz, Camille Cottier and Molly Brocklehurst.
Grace Tobin captures intimate moments in her works that are enhanced by the soft glow of light that is used in her monochromatic paintings. The quietness of her pieces creates feelings of tranquillity and calm by the stillness of her dreamscapes. Tobin’s use of a single hue elevates these seemingly small, personal memories for us to then celebrate in the everyday. You can see more of Tobin’s work in her upcoming show ‘Soft Voices’ in the RHODES Project Space on the 5th-27th of April 2024.
Similarly to Tobin, Cathy Tabbakh also uses her monochromatic pieces to capture and appreciate the typically mundane. Born from the suspension of normal life during the pandemic lockdowns, Tabbakh sought to create intimacy with others by capturing and sharing the moments inside her home when we were not able to be with each other physically. Through this human need for connection, Tabbakh has created deeply emotional images of botanical forms that are enhanced by their limited colour palette.
In Marius Seidlitz’s works, he uses tones and highlights of a particular hue to emphasise the smooth, shiny texture of the figures and bring attention to the surrealist nature of the imagery. The accentuation of beauty that the monochromatic nature creates, demonstrates the pervasive theme of sexuality within his works. Elongated necks, large voluminous lips and the sultry gazes of Westernised beauty standards are questioned by his restriction of colour. Seidlitz experiments with monochrome in black and white as well as in tones of colour, you can see this in his piece 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' (2023).
Camille Cottier explores themes of the body and identity in her ‘Les Bonshommes’ series that have been developed over ten years. In this collection, she features pieces that use a monochromatic style to question body politics and place importance on our connections to the people around us. Interrogating body and form, the tool of monochromatic colour is important to the impactful results of Camille Cottier’s paintings.
Unlike the artists previously mentioned, Molly Brocklehurst also works within a monochromatic colour palette but will pair this with another hue to separate the figure of her works from the background. As seen in her painting ‘Magician’, Molly uses this restriction of colour to create contrast between her subjects and their background in a way that places importance and focus on their features.
For more information about any of the artists mentioned above, please email info@rhodescontemporaryart.com.
