Chil Mott - “Mosquito Gods”

new paintings

Feb 3rd - Feb 27th 2024

Opening night reception Feb 3rd 6-8pm

For our first exhibition in 2024 we are thrilled to present a series by extraordinary painter Chil Mott. A noted musician and designer, Mott has recently been garnering attention and acclaim for his "Sill Life" series of poignant photo-realistic paintings of dead insects. Far from macabre, these sensitive and gorgeous portraits ruminate of the fleetingness and preciousness of life, in all its incarnations. We will be exhibiting 8 new paintings.

“When I was completing the painting with the scattering of a dozen or so crane flies I noticed that the composition had a slight resemblance to an engraving by Martin Schongauer The Temptation of St. Anthony. So I employed a small word play to come up with my title The Temptation of Insanity. Around this same time I came across the term "mosquito gods" that refers to false deities that are nothing more than annoyances. I liked the tie in as I had started to think about some of these pieces as icons, and as a naturalist I liked the multiple meanings that could be gleaned.”

“When I first began this series, I was thinking a lot about our zone of compassion. Where does it start? Where does it end? Does proximity and exposure to ourselves encourage and heighten it, while setting boundaries? That is, do we expand beyond ourselves to our families, our friends, the communities we live in — but not beyond? Are we inclined to appreciate those who came before us? The generations that follow us? What about groups of people we will never meet and about whom we know little? Do we draw the line at humans, or do we include animals, insects and plants? All living things, even paramecia? Only a sociopath has no compassion. But can a compassionate person embrace it all, everything in the universe, without getting overwhelmed? We are all connected, whether indifferent or not. So what do we value? Who are our gods?” - Chil Mott 2024

Scroll to bottom of page to see a video of Mott speaking about his influences!

Please just contact us to get larger (hi res and crisper) images , detail images, or a video walk around of a piece!