Innovative and Groundbreaking Force in Abstract Art
Beas, an innovative force in abstract painting, explores the unique intersections of art and science. His artistic journey began with a camera bought during his service in the Vietnam War, sparking his passion for visual arts. After studying under Edgar Albin and his talented art staff at Southwest Missouri University in the early 1970s, Beas has continually been exploring and inventing unique painting techniques. Notably, he pioneered the pendulum painting technique in 1974, devising a unique device to accurately deliver paint onto the canvas. This groundbreaking method was first applied to a painting in 1977, marking a distinct milestone in abstract art.
A Life of Creativity and Exploration
Beyond his passion for art and science, Beas is also a lover of music, having penned over 100 songs in the 1990s. He even ventured into the realm of short art films, creating the project “Fun Alley” during his time at university. Beas is an author in the making with plans to publish his book, Straight from the Horse’s Mouth. He and his wife, Jane, are avid travelers who have visited many world-class museums, and he is a long-time vegetarian with a love for ice cream.
Exploring the Universe Through Abstract Art
Beas’ work is characterized by his two most significant series, “The Big Bang Theory” created in the ’70s, and “The Theory of Everything” developed in the 2020s. Although the latter series came decades later, both are intrinsically connected, with the earlier series fitting within the conceptual framework of the latter. Drawn to grand scientific theories, Beas chose to paint abstract representations of these subjects. His use of primary colors is symbolic, representing the basic elements and forces within these theories. Each painting carries a piece of Beas himself, quite literally, as he attaches a sample of his DNA in a sealed packet on the back of each canvas as a testament to its authenticity. Beas invites viewers to enjoy both the overall composition of his paintings and the intricate details when seen up close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Did Beas create any new painting techniques?
Yes, Beas pioneered the pendulum technique in 1974 and was the first to use it in a painting in 1977. His experimental approach to art also led him to explore various unconventional paint additives and materials.
Q. What inspired Beas to paint “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Theory of Everything”?
Beas has always been fascinated by science. He sought significant subjects to represent abstractly and found these theories to be profound and encompassing. The two series, while created decades apart, share a conceptual link, with “The Big Bang Theory” fitting within the larger framework of “The Theory of Everything”.
Q. What does Beas’ use of primary colors signify?
In Beas’ work, primary colors serve a symbolic purpose. They represent the basic elements and diverse forces found within the scientific theories that his art explores.
Q. Why does Beas attach a sample of his DNA on the back of his paintings?
Beas considers DNA the ultimate proof of authenticity. This unique approach to provenance ensures the authenticity of his artwork, preventing potential forgery, and safeguarding the value of his works in the future.
Q. Why is Beas seeking an investor for his collection now?
Beas has always focused on creating rather than selling his art. He believes a savvy art investor can help his paintings find their rightful place in the art world. Owning the entire collection allows the investor to have better control over the future value of the paintings. At 78, storage for his large-scale paintings has become a challenge, and he believes it’s time for others to appreciate his creations.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Big Bang Series (1970’s)
The Big Bang Series by Beas is a celestial odyssey that invites viewers to traverse the origins and expansive mysteries of our universe through the lens of contemporary abstract art. Each painting in the Big Bang Series is a masterful articulation of the universe’s formative forces, from the singularity bursting forth in “Primordial Egg” to the cyclical cosmic cataclysm envisioned in “Big Crunch.”
Notably, the series is recognized for the first-ever use of the pendulum technique in art history. Beas pioneered this groundbreaking approach in 1977 and as a result has redefined the boundaries of abstract painting. This technique, mirroring the cosmic dance of celestial bodies, lends a distinct physicality and rhythm to the exploration of complex cosmic themes on canvas.
As a testament to the human spirit’s insatiable curiosity, the Big Bang Series stands as a profound narrative that bridges art and cosmology. Beas’s work transforms canvases into portals to the nascent universe, narrating the dynamic processes that led to the birth of stars and galaxies.
Representing a cultural artifact poised to endure as discussions of art and science evolve, the Big Bang Series is a rare offering that combines visual splendor with intellectual depth—a celebration of both the known and the mysterious, and a nod to the timeless quest to understand our place in the grand tapestry of existence.
The Theory of Everything (2017-2021)
The Theory of Everything Series by Beas stands as an unparalleled intellectual exploration in contemporary art, showcasing the matured culmination of the artist’s decades-long journey in both technique and thought. Here, Beas has unleashed a multitude of creative techniques, each honed over decades of relentless innovation and experimentation, to interpret some of the most complex and captivating ideas ever conceived in human thought.
From the infinitesimal dance of particles in “Elementary” to the cosmic expanse suggested by “Infiniverse,” each piece in the series is a nexus of color, form, and texture that dares to visualize the unseeable. Beas’s work embodies a lifetime of artistic evolution, a culmination of skills that weave the threads of primary colors into a grand tapestry reflecting the elemental forces and theories that underpin our understanding of the universe.
This series is not merely a collection of abstract paintings; it is an odyssey through time and space, thought and theory. With each brushstroke, Beas invites the viewer into a realm where science and art collide and coalesce, where the mysteries of dark matter and the enigmas of quantum mechanics are rendered in strokes bold and delicate.
Beas’s Theory of Everything is an artistic parallel to the scientific pursuit of a unified understanding, a visual journey that echoes the human quest for knowledge. It’s a celebration of where we’ve come from and a bold stride into the uncharted territories of both cosmos and consciousness. Each piece stands as a beacon of the artist’s matured vision, a vision that is as boundless as the theories it seeks to encapsulate. This series is a testament to the power of abstract art to not only depict reality but to expand it—inviting us to see beyond the visible, into the vibrant essence of all there is, or could ever be.