DAVID LAITY

October 8th - October 26th

Laity is self-taught and he sees this lack of formal training as a key element in allowing his naive artistic vision to remain fresh and original. To Laity being self taught means:

"My work has a look all its own. An art teacher's particular likes and dislikes have never driven me. I'm not convinced that you can learn to be an artist at uni anyway, as yes, they can teach you art history and painting techniques. But the important things: inspiration, perseverance, dedication and determination must come from within."

After seven sell out solo shows Laity has clearly established an identifiable and very individual style: the curvaceous flowing lines, the sexy and exaggerated bodies, a preference for bold strong tones, an almost textural paint heavy with impasto, and images that toy with societal taboos - with the forbidden.

"Girls" "Seductions" "Tease" "Dare" "Entice" "Revealed" "Allure" and "Underneath" - the titles of David's eight solo exhibitions - reveal the growing sexuality evident in Laity's imagery.

"The reason that I am attracted to the images that I paint is difficult to pinpoint as I select all my works via instinct and intuition rather than any intellectual reasoning. At times it almost seems as thought the images select me."

"Rather than explaining my work, I prefer to let the images speak for themselves. However, as I reflect on my influences, I am conscious that my painting is part of a long standing tradition of erotic art, and in current day terms, it is part of what has been coined the New Porn Movement."

"New Porn is the banner under which more and more explicit sexual images are finding their way in to the mainstream, and I feel a part of that."

"I feel part of the historic tradition of erotica. I very much admire the work of Modigliani, Balthus and Egon Schiele, as well as the Japanese Shunga artists of the late Edo period. In the contemporary context I feel a connection with the photographers Trevor Watson, Ellen von Unwerth, Eric Kroll, Natacha Merritt etc, who work in the realm of the erotic."

"I don't produce erotic images to shock or provoke. I paint what I love. I love the sensuality and curvaceous beauty of the female form. My works are a celebration of love and intimacy and I endeavour to show sexuality in this light."

"I think this lightness is something that people react to when they see my painting. People tend to react to my work on an instinctive level rather than an intellectual level, which is great because that's how they are created. In my mind there is nothing more alluring than a woman who is both confident and comfortable with her body and sensuality. Just look at the women I paint - full of luscious curves, exaggerated hips and seductive forms."

Laity's painting pushes boundaries in style, technique and imagery. Many images depict what is forbidden. One of the essential attractions of sexy imagery is the taboo and Laity uses this element overtly in his painting.

"I don't try to be politically correct and I don't mind if people find my work too confronting. What is important to me is that my work provokes a reaction from the viewer (hopefully positive), because if the work fails to do this, then it's just a picture…easily forgotten."

"Much of the eroticism seen in my art comes from what is not there: from what is not explained; from the story that gets told in the mind of the viewer."

There's a sensuality in the strong, curvaceous lines obvious in Laity's work. Sexy, rounded shapes define his style. These fluid controlled lines are bold, bringing an individual and graphic quality to Laity's paintings.

The sensuality evident in all Laity's paintings is so fresh and different. It's about self-assurance:

"Impasto has added a whole new dimension to my work, it's brought it alive. When I do really fast impasto and let it dry there's certain energy with it that you just can't get with flat paint. The texture is frozen on the canvas capturing that energy forever. There's a depth to my painting and a different energy to my work."

"Impasto gives people something to look at besides the image, and they do - making people want to reach out, touch and explore my paintings. I love seeing this reaction to my work."

"Naughty is fun. To paint the images I do I have to enjoy them. I love their sexiness and approach painting them in a fun and positive way. I also like seeing how far I can push things - the layers of paint, the images I choose - and I like watching people's reactions to new work - people are (not surprisingly) comfortable with it."