Steve Nimmons Photography Northern Ireland

Primal is an abstract photographic artwork created with the experimental process of chemigrams. The title Primal hints at an exploration of the primitive and instinctual aspects of human nature. The image toned in blue, is in the style of a cyanotype. The chemigram technique involves manipulating photosensitive paper with various chemicals to create abstract patterns and textures. In this instance, the process is used to create the outline form of a primate’s face. The work is a reflection on the dichotomy between waking life and the dream state. The implied question is whether, when we dream, we strip away the layers of societal conditioning and reveal our true, primal selves. The abstract representation of the primate serves as a visual metaphor for this exploration, challenging the notion of civility as a façade in waking life. The artwork invites contemplation on the subconscious mind's ability to unveil our primal instincts during dreams, raising questions about the authenticity of conditioned and socially constrained behaviour. #chemigram #experimental #photography #visualart #visualartist https://lnkd.in/evDj-u-M

Do dreams have maps? Can we see the contours of the subconscious? In this visual art work using acrylic on canvas I explore the idea that dream sequences are linked and the unconscious mind reveals them through mapped sequences. The Map to the Next Sequence is a surreal abstract photographic artwork that combines acrylic painting on canvas with fluid art techniques, specifically acrylic pouring. The title suggests an exploration of dream sequences and the visual representation of the directions the dreaming mind takes to navigate through the ever-shifting landscapes of a dream. The piece is both wild and abstract, reflecting something of the nature of the dream world. Acrylic pouring adds to the unpredictability and fluidity of the composition, creating organic patterns that mirror the spontaneity of dreams. At the core of the artwork, symbolic elements represent a map and the contours within a mental landscape. Elements suggest the directions the dreaming mind takes as it moves from one sequence to the next, forming a visual representation of the dream map. The abstract and wild nature of the artwork mirrors the untamed expanses of the dream world, while the symbolic elements hint at the pathways and directions the dreaming mind might traverse. https://lnkd.in/ewPKE6yb #dream #dreaming #acrylic #painting #conceptualart #surreal

Signals in the Blue Flame is a conceptual photographic artwork using acrylic painting on canvas. It is a symbolic exploration of communication between the subconscious and conscious mind, specifically between dreams and the waking state. The piece explores the mysterious transmissions that flow across different states of human consciousness. The blue flame symbolises expansiveness and logic. This alludes to the expansiveness of the mind and the seemingly structured nature of the awakened state. The signals represent the mysterious exchanges between dreams states and awakened states. Are these signals bi-directional? The abstraction prompts contemplation on the mechanisms through which the mind conveys information to itself, blurring the boundaries between dreams and waking reality. It is a visual meditation on the intricacies of the subconscious and conscious mind and their communication flows. https://lnkd.in/ezbmsQ43 #acrylic #painting #abstractart #surrealism #artoftheday

Flowers of the Black Sun is a psychological abstract photographic artwork created with black acrylic paint on artboard. The work explores the the realm of bad dreams, offering a sorrowful and dark meditation on the symbolic representation of fears and worries that permeate the subconscious. Do these fears arise through some form of Collective Unconscious, anxiety in the zeitgeist? The near absence of colour underscores the emotional hollowness of the piece, conveying a sense of emptiness, sorrow and foreboding. Flowers, traditionally associated with beauty and growth, assume a macabre context. These symbolic blooms are black, the antithesis of natural flowers and the opposite of the idyllic Eden. The flower is a representation of the fears and worries that infiltrate the dream space, tainting it with an unsettling darkness. - photo artwork visualising depressive dream states. Flowers of the Black Sun uses black acrylic paint on artboard which is dried and scratched. The image has a sense of being the antithesis of nature and of Eden - an unnatural bloom. https://lnkd.in/eYWh8qhA #acrylic #darkart #flower #painting #surreal #art

Smile is a surrealist photographic artwork using chemigrams. The work presents an odd creature which appears to be smiling, evoking a sense of the familiar and unfamiliar. The creature carries an air of ambiguity, appearing simultaneously threatening and mysterious, much like the enigma of the unknown. The odd creature's smile carries an elusive quality, leaving the viewer uncertain of its true nature. This duality instils a sense of tension. Is this figure a harbinger of hope or a warning? Is the vision of such a creature within dreams pleasant or foreboding? The viewer is left to navigate the ambiguity. - psychological image making using chemigram process, dark room chemicals, toothpaste and olive oil as resists on aged photographic paper. https://lnkd.in/eWE_bbd9 #surreal #abstract #surrealism #surrealist #surrealart #artist

Visual art representing a meditation on 'the fire of the conscience' using both acrylic and oil paint on canvas and photographing the painting through a polystyrene 'tube'. The Fire of the Conscience is a conceptual abstract photographic artwork that combines acrylic and oil painting on canvas to explore the intricate relationship between the conscience and behaviour. It is interested in the fluid boundaries between dream states and waking states and the function of the conscience in both. Fire conveys a sense of movement and unpredictability, reflecting the dynamic nature of inner moral conflicts. The image is viewed almost telescopically, photographed through a polystyrene tube, the viewer gains an altered perception of the fire. This tunnelling effect creates depth, drawing attention to the centre of the picture and the fire’s intensity. This is intended to serve as a metaphor for the internal exploration of personal conscience, as if the viewer is peering through a partially veiled space. The title implies that the artwork is a visual meditation on the role of the conscience, raising questions about how it shapes both behaviour and the relationship between dream states and ‘reality’. This piece encourages viewers to reflect on the symbolic representation of fire, not just as a destructive force but also as a source of illumination and self-awareness. The artwork prompts contemplation on the subconscious influence of the conscience, exploring its role in dreams and waking states. #acrylic #art #painting #conceptualphotography #conceptart https://lnkd.in/eTgXr6UT

The Whisper of Morpheus is a conceptual photographic artwork that seeks to represent the concept of being beckoned into the realm of dreams. Using canvas and acrylic paint, this piece is a symbolic representation of Morpheus, the mythical god of dreams, as a welcoming and genial presence guiding the dreamer through sleep’s embrace. In abstract representation, Morpheus exudes an aura of warmth and friendliness, embodying the benevolent nature of the god of dreams. Morpheus is almost like a spectral presence, intangible and elusive. The title, "The Whisper of Morpheus," alludes to the subtle and gentle guidance provided by Morpheus as the dreamer is called into the world of dreams. This piece invites viewers to contemplate the transition from wakefulness to the dream state, exploring the comforting and inviting essence of Morpheus' whispered guidance. The image is a meditation on the intangible nature of dreams and the mysterious allure of the god who gently ushers individuals into the realms of the subconscious. #abstractart #art #visualart #acrylic #painting #surreal https://lnkd.in/e4QPDQkG

How Dreams Begin is an abstract photographic artwork that explores the enigmatic process of dream inception. The piece is composed on an unconventional medium – using acrylic on newspaper – symbolising the dream's ability to erase the tangible, factual world as it begins to construct its own narratives within the dreamer’s mind. The composition conveys the nebulous and unpredictable nature of the mind as it sifts through experiences, memories, and emotions, selecting and shaping the themes that will manifest in the dream. The newspaper, with its printed text and imagery, serves as a metaphor for the tangible and factual aspects of the waking world. As the acrylic paint is applied, it blurs, distorts, and obscures the newsprint beneath, representing the dream's transformative influence on reality. The picture encourages contemplation on the mysterious genesis of dreams and the powerful forces that shape their content. Where do these come from, how are they selected and how do they shape the dreams from which they are seeded? #visualart #artist #surreal #surrealism #acrylic #painting https://lnkd.in/eXu5aeh6

Dawn is Approaching is a conceptual abstract photographic artwork that uses acrylic painting on canvas. This piece serves as a symbolic representation of the delicate transition between dreaming and waking, prompting contemplation on how the mind discerns and navigates between these distinct states of consciousness. The composition revolves around the abstract representation of the Cockrill, symbolising the call of dawn as it breaks through the dreamlike landscapes of the subconscious. The abstract nature of the painting encourages viewers to reflect on the intricate and subjective experience of transitioning from dreaming to waking. The intentional use of abstract forms prompts questions about the mind's ability to discern between different states of consciousness. The Cockrill is a metaphor for internal awakening, raising questions about the subtleties and nuances involved in the mind's ability to differentiate between the surreal landscapes of dreams and the tangible world of wakefulness. Are these states different or a cunning illusion? https://lnkd.in/eWeDfVm3 #acrylic #acrylicpainting #abstractart #surreal #surrealism #artist

Travelling Between Dream Sequences is a conceptual abstract photographic artwork that combines a chemigram and acrylic painting to convey the fluid journey through various dream stages within the mind of a dreamer. The piece serves as a symbolic representation of the transitions between different realms of the dreamer's subconscious, attempting to visualise the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the dream experience. The chemigram, using photosensitive paper with various chemicals creates abstract patterns and textures. This is over-painted with acrylic paint, introducing layers and a sense of directional movement into the composition. The use of orange and black as the colour palette adds energy and contrast. Orange evokes a sense of warmth and vibrancy, symbolising the vivid and emotive aspects of dream sequences. The use of black adds contrast and mystery, hinting at the enigmatic and surreal nature of the dream experience. As the dreamer moves through different stages of the dream, the acrylic paint on top of the chemigram becomes a visual representation of the transition itself. There is a sense of movement and flow, echoing the progression from one dream sequence to another. The intentional combination of the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the chemigram with the more controlled acrylic painting reflects the duality of the dream state, where elements of both randomness and intention seem to coexist. The artwork serves as a visual metaphor for the dynamic and ever-evolving landscapes within the dreamer's psyche. https://lnkd.in/e-NfZGBZ #visualart #art #artist #chemigram #experimentalart #photographer