Chris Cilento says he “makes art to, quite literally, stay alive”. As a veteran with multiple combat deployments he has seen the worst of humanity. Through art Chris attempts to make something beautiful out of the horrific scenes he has witnessed. Art has become a catharsis for him and a coping mechanism, ultimately, for survival. The gruesome memories, images, and darkness that jostle for space inside his head find a healthy outlet in whichever medium he is working. Making art helps him make sense of the senselessness of war.
Chris’s work consists of paintings, photography, sculpture, and film. By challenging the division between memory and experience, he makes work that deals with the documentation of events and the question of how they can be presented. This is expressed with the help of physical works, technology, and the use of metaphor.
His paintings are an investigation into representations of dreams and memories as well as depictions of ideas that can only be realized in the abstract. Using meditative techniques and music, He is able to objectively delve into the darkest regions of his memories; and in his work, is able to use intangible images by converting them into something tangible. This type of personal reflection is important as an act of catharsis.
His photography and digital compositions deal with and question the concept of memory. He tries to develop forms that do not always follow logical criteria but is, instead, based on subjective associations and natural parallels. This results in multilayered images in which the fragility and instability of our seemingly certain reality is questioned.
