Fictitious Realism by Sydney Artist Jonathan Dalton

The Remnants of A Migrants Tale, 2016. Oil on canvas 91 × 121 cm.

The Implied Escalation to Violence, 2016. Oil on canvas 91 x 120cm.

Upon Hearing the News, 2016. Oil on board 60 x 55cm.

A Taste Of Persephone, 2016. Oil on board 60 x 55cm.

The Return to Modesty, 2016. Oil on board 55 × 60 cm.

Sydney-based artist Jonathan Dalton‘s works are dominated by dark, tinted scenes that hint at an unfolding and curious story that the viewer has to imagine from the characters and their ambiguous surroundings. Dalton is obsessive about truth and the perception of truth in his picture making. His paintings are works of exceptional realism, rendered with a hand that possesses the gift of a master craftsman. However, the artist’s interest is firmly rooted in the very real and modern world.

Dalton’s work is concerned with the delicate observation of nuanced drama and subtle symbolism. Each piece is an expression of a charged moment—often ambiguous, frequently troubling, always refusing to submit to closure. The outcome is layer after layer of paint, deftly and meticulously applied, creating an image with depth and theatricality that elevate it beyond a photorealist frame of reference.

Dalton’s solo show “The Remnants of a Migrant’s Tale” showcased a series of captivating works that frequently depicted a female muse caught in a series of perplexing psychological moments. The works oscillate between tender and loving, moving towards a perpetual states of unrest.

A Lady Without Name and Her Daughter, 2016. Oil on board 91 x 120cm.

I Still Miss You, 2016. Oil on board 55 x 60cm.

Awaiting Judgement. Oil on linen 76 x 101cm.

An End Of Innocence, 2016. Oil on board 55 x 60cm.

That Strange Ceremony, 2016. Oil on board 91 × 120 cm.

Captain Brackins Spanish Wife, 2016. Oil on canvas 198 × 167 cm.

Dalton’s upcoming show, “A Beauty Imperfect”, opens at Nanda\Hobbs Contemporary on Friday 17 March. In this new show, the artist observes that a contemporary world is filled with people who obsess with self-image and self-interest. It is a world where the multiplication and proliferation of imagery allows for us to only consider things momentarily—before we move on to the next shiny object.

Jonathan Dalton was born in 1977 in Dublin, Ireland. He studied philosophy at University College Dublin, then opened a photography studio before moving to full-time painting. He has also lived in San Francisco, London and Granada, Spain.

“A Beauty Imperfect” by Jonathan Dalton runs from 13th to 24th March at Nanda\Hobbs Contemporary in Sydney. Show opens on Friday 17 March 12.30-2:30pm, with an artist talk commencing at 1:00pm.

Big Bowl, 2017. Oil on canvas 182 x 213cm.