Undulant Figure (Nella Reclining)
36”x132”
Archival Print on Fluted Fiberboard with Tessellation Fold.
Commissioned by Manulife, this series of four large-scale wall sculptures explores the human figure through folded encaustic monotypes. Installed at 100 University Avenue, the works reflect light and color to bring warmth and quiet energy to the space, offering moments of connection within a corporate setting.
David Brown’s Encaustic Corrugations series builds on the geometry and rhythm of tessellated folds, inspired by patterns like the Miura Ori — a folded design originally developed by Koryo Miura for compacting solar panels on Japanese space probes. While tessellations have been explored since the 16th century, David brings them into a contemporary sculptural context.
Each piece begins with a folded corrugated cardboard armature, forming energetic, rhythmical structures that explore repetition, movement, and spatial depth. The front surfaces are layered with heavily textured encaustic, creating a luminous, tactile finish, while the backs are painted with acrylic to generate a warm, glowing counterpoint. Light and shadow animate the folds, giving the works a subtle, ever-changing presence in space.
Through these folded forms, David investigates the dialogue between structure, surface, and perception, translating geometric rigour into a lyrical, almost sculptural language that resonates with both the eye and the imagination.
David Brown’s Encaustic Monotypes explore the interplay between surface, form, and movement. By folding his prints into rhythmical sculptural forms, he transforms flat compositions into dynamic, three-dimensional experiences. Undulating angles and geometric folds twist and bend the printed patterns, guiding the viewer’s eye across and through the work — back and forth, up and down, in and out.
The combination of encaustic’s rich texture and the sculptural folds creates a luminous, tactile quality, giving the monotypes a sense of depth and animation. Each piece invites the viewer to engage physically and visually, emphasizing the relationship between pattern, light, and the spaces it inhabits.
Through these works, David continues his investigation into how form, surface, and perception can animate and transform visual experience, bridging the boundary between two- and three-dimensional expression.
In his encaustic paintings, David Brown builds layers of wax over acrylic washes, oil, and spray paints, creating rich, sculptural surfaces. Organic and geometric shapes intertwine across multiple levels, rendered in both positive and negative forms, generating depth and visual complexity.
The resulting works are delicate, sculptural surfaces where traces of memory and time emerge — fragments of long-forgotten messages and impressions resonate beneath the wax, inviting viewers to explore both the materiality and the narrative embedded within each piece. Through this process, David transforms painting into a tactile, immersive experience, where surface, form, and light converge.
Encaustic Monotypes are one-of-a-kind, non-repeatable prints created through an agile, hands-on process. Pigmented wax is melted on a heated metal surface and then transferred to paper using only wax, heat, and gentle hand pressure — no printing press required.
The process balances four key variables — wax, heat, paper, and pressure — producing endless, unpredictable results. Compositions evolve through the addition and subtraction of wax using customized silicone tools and brushes, allowing for spontaneity and experimentation.
The final works combine the directness and immediacy of traditional printmaking with the richness, texture, and luminosity of encaustic. Each monotype is a unique exploration of surface, light, and form, capturing the dynamic qualities of the medium while retaining the vitality of a singular moment.
In his Assembled Monotypes, David Brown transforms his original encaustic prints by cutting, folding, and reassembling them into new compositions. This process gives the works added dimension and vitality, turning flat prints into dynamic, sculptural pieces.
Geometric shapes and carefully considered forms guide the viewer’s eye in and around each meticulously crafted composition, creating a sense of rhythm, movement, and spatial interplay. Through this method, David extends the life of each monotype, exploring how form, surface, and perception interact beyond the original print.
In his Encaustic on Paper works, David Brown explores the expressive possibilities of the encaustic medium, balancing abstract space with non-representational imagery. His approach blends lyrical gestures with constructivist structures, integrating delicate line work, hard-edge geometric forms, and flowing organic shapes.
Working in successive layers of wax, David engages in a process of continual revision and discovery, allowing compositions to evolve organically. His colour palette — combining cool pastels, warm earth tones, and deep lamp blacks — establishes a subtle hierarchy between foreground and background.
Urban culture informs much of his imagery, while a playful, almost whimsical sensibility occasionally emerges through the layers, adding a sense of charm and spontaneity to each piece. Through these works, David investigates the interplay of form, colour, and texture, pushing the boundaries of what encaustic can convey on paper.
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