Staircase Night Triptych by Philip Clairmont

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Staircase Night Triptych

Staircase Night Triptych

Artist

Philip Clairmont
Production Date

1978
Medium

acrylic and oil on jute
Size

1775 x 2820 mm
Credit

Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1987
Accession Number

C1994/1/197.1-3
Accession Date

Jan 1987
Department

New Zealand Art
Classification

Painting
Collection

Chartwell
Subjects

abstraction, triptychs, stairs, interior views, lights, expression
Description

‘A triptych is a very challenging format.’
Philip Clairmont

Clairmont combines three perspectives, and gazes upwards and downwards. The dizzying views suggest that the space itself is experiencing a continuous vertigo. These stairs are thrilling and scary at the same moment. Danger and delight are ever present – like an especially thrilling movie.

Exposed light bulbs highlight the jagged blackened reds, scorched yellows and the midnight-blues. Clairmont’s use of dry, fractured colour further communicates a mood of exalted delight. This staircase possesses an authentic drama, as if a real physical entity is about to be encountered.

(Self and Other, 2003)