Artist's Statement

The subjects of my paintings are historical price charts of stocks, indexes and commodities.

The charting technique used in these pieces is known as ‘candlestick’ charting and was developed in the 18th century by a rice trader in Japan. While watching the chaos of the trading pit, the trader had an epiphany. He theorized that the prices were not moving based on the value of rice but rather the collective emotion of the traders.

“they are a snapshot of human emotion. Within these rigid, geometrical shapes lies primal emotion and humanity, fleeting moments that once existed reduced to their most basic forms.”

He created this charting technique to visually monitor the emotion of the crowd. To me, they are a snapshot of human emotion. Within these rigid, geometrical shapes lies primal emotion and humanity, fleeting moments that once existed reduced to their most basic forms.

Each painting represents a moment in history that is aimed to resonate with the viewer. A moment to viscerally connect them to the image; September 11th, The moon landing, The fall of the berlin wall. And while I don’t suggest a cause-and-effect relationship between the event and the price action, one may or may not exist.

FORM AND COLOR

Candlestick charts are constructed using four points from a given time period. Warm colors are used to represent declining price action with a cooler palette for advancing. Here, function is actually defined by both form and color, each playing an equal role in the interpretation of the chart

“function is actually defined by both form and color, each playing an equal role in the interpretation of the chart”

As these charts are still widely used today, in some pieces, the forms are juxtaposed against more modern indicators; moving averages and Bollinger bands; price-tracking waves generated by financial software. This combination of elements illustrates a unique and tenuous marriage of eastern philosophy and western technology and capitalism that pervades our modern world.

To maintain the integrity of the chart, the work must exist within all of these technical parameters regarding color and form. The challenge is to adhere to those parameters while creating an autonomy for each element, separating it from both the event it represents and its original context.

ABOUT

Jason lives and works in Santa Barbara, Ca with his wife Jenn, kids Brooklyn and West and their dog Jo-Jo Blaze.

CONTACT

For commission and sales inquiries, please email jason@gagnestudio.com