BIO

 

Francis Scott Horner, born in 1987, is an American-based artist working in Richmond, Virginia. He has

studied in the United States and the United Kingdom, completing his BFA at Virginia Commonwealth

University and his MFA at Glasgow School of Art. Having shown both nationally and internationally, his

works are primarily known for their temporal quality.

 

 

Artist Statement

 

Early in my career, I was introduced to Plato’s analogy of the Cave , where, like prisoners chained in a cave, all we see are the shadows cast by the light outside. This concept is the underlying inspiration expressed in my work: Do we ever truly see the object in front of us or, are we consigned to see only the shadow cast by that object? We see things every day and never notice them, whether they are the light fixtures over our heads or the subtle distances we give each other to allow for personal space. My installations attempt to move such understated things to the forefront and challenge the viewer to ask “What do I really see?” My goal in all of this is to have viewers go beyond just seeing the shadows cast through illumination and see the objects casting those shadows.  In a sense, I want my pieces to break viewers free from the cave where one is, only able to see the spectral images, and help them better perceive the “true form of reality”, much like the higher reality of the philosopher.

 

My “Portal” Series, which consists of large-scale structural forms framing paper-cut images, attempts to simultaneously create meditative environments while challenging people’s perception of the spaces. The architectural forms serve to separate the person from the larger setting, drawing one’s attention into a quieter more meditative atmosphere while providing thought- provoking visual stimuli. The “Enigma” series is produced using layered paper-cut pieces which rely on single point lighting to reveal an image, while the “Experiments In Light” series uses mundane materials to alter the existing setting, creating new spaces or redefining elements within a specific area