Visual artist Aengus Rathbone Follow.Art Card

About me

Artist statement for Aengus Rathbone

Brighton Series now on exhibit at The Vault Gallery, Brighton

Recently short-listed for the Visual Art Open art prize, Aengus, is a London born contemporary painter, who grew up in the 80s, based in Kemptown Brighton since 2024.  He produces highly colourful and playful acrylic paintings with an escapist and tropical feeling.
In this series he presents Brighton beyond the postcard image of the city and reveals a different layer. 
One of the things he loves most about Kemptown, the neighbourhood where he lives, is the context of an ordinary side street of Brighton terraced houses with the horizon of the sea. Those sudden glimpses of the coastline are a constant source of inspiration for him living in a seaside town.
Every painting in this series is based on a real viewpoint from his everyday life. In addition to the familiar scenes, he consciously and unapologetically weaves in elements from his artistic influences. Dashes of Memphis Milano Group, Japanese City Pop, Athena posters from the 80s and a touch of Vaporwave aesthetics appear throughout the work, creating a version of Brighton, he has coined this Brightonwave.

Light is another essential part of the series. The work is distinctive because of its sharp contrasts in the shadows from the bright day sun, and dusky colours caused by Brighton’s famous sunsets.
He also decorates the architecture with foliage that grows lush all around, but also some non-native plants like palm trees which show a longing for exotic escapism. Although living the Brighton life does feel like a holiday.
Though none of the work show people, obvious signs of life remain throughout. Together, these scenes portray Brighton as he lives it,  as a cozy refuge with possibility, and escape. Brightonwave.