PAINTING 2600
During my digital residency with @artistres_ I embarked on a journey of artistic exploration. It began when I acquired an Atari Flashback 8 Gold, a modern re-release of the iconic Atari 2600. As I played the system and paused its clunky gameplay, I was captivated by its abstract shapes and forms. These moments of reflection led to the creation of "Painting 2600."
This project is an experiment in the appropriation and re-interpretation of the abstract forms inherent in the Atari 2600. The graphics are so primitive that a haunted house, a car, or a tree becomes a mere handful of squares. In these abstractions, I couldn't help but be reminded of the work of minimalist painters like Ellsworth Kelly, who found beauty in simplicity.
Drawing from the Atari's graphics, shapes, forms, and colors, as well as other Atari ephemera such as box art, patents, manuals, reviews, and colored images, I crafted a series of digital paintings. These paintings breathe new life into the Atari 2600's geographic, minimalistic, and abstracted forms, presenting them as modern images worthy of reconsideration.
With "Painting 2600," I invite you to join me in rediscovering the artistic potential concealed within the pixels and polygons of gaming's past. These artworks are a reflection of my fascination with the intersection of technology, art, and nostalgia, and I hope they inspire you to see the Atari 2600 in a fresh light.
