Artist’s impression, courtesy of Ian Tee

DEEP CUTS transforms the materials and surfaces of the artist’s studio into a striking visual narrative. Drawing from the surroundings that shape the artist’s practice, as well as the industrial character of the mural’s site, it reassembles fragments of raw, utilitarian materials and textures into a cohesive composition. Structured like a graphic novel, the work features panels connected by action lines and a rhythm that guides the viewer’s gaze.

The title, DEEP CUTS, refers to niche or lesser-known media that have dedicated followers, reflecting the artist’s appreciation of the visual motifs that inspire his painting practice. This mural explores the aesthetics of both print and digital media, adapting the process of mediums like woodblock printing, Ben-Day dots, CMYK halftones, pixel art and ASCII graphics. By amplifying and distilling the marks of these intricate details, the work blurs the line between recognition and abstraction, inviting viewers to reconsider how variations in scale across physical and virtual spaces can affect our interpretation of an image.

As part of the process of creating the mural, photographs of distressed metal containers, paint splattered walls, as well as high-resolution scans of textiles were digitally manipulated to accentuate different formal qualities. For example, paint drips were given a halftone treatment, dissolving the image into clusters of smaller dots. Similarly, the warp and weft of textiles were abstracted into simple lines of varying widths. These techniques are commonly used in silkscreen printing and graphic design to create the illusion of depth or gradients.

Taken together, this exploration of perception aligns with the artist’s broader practice, which investigates how images and artistic mediums are interpreted. Working with materials such as aluminium, textiles, and employing collage as a technique, Ian’s practice focuses on formal concerns like texture, colour, and line quality, while engaging with their cultural associations. Themes of youth, defiance and self-expression emerge in his work, drawing inspiration from the vibrant energy and visual style of various subcultures. These references add both vitality and introspection, balancing subjectivity with a collective resonance.

DEEP CUTS reimagines the mundane as extraordinary, encouraging a deeper engagement with the visual world. The fragmented imagery invites viewers to pause, reflect and find meaning in the subtle abstractions that permeate their everyday experiences. Through a blend of observation, memory and imagination, the work reshapes how we perceive and connect with the spaces we inhabit.

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