10 Questions with Chris Watts
This journey began over a decade ago when Watts was captivated by ancient art and languages. He marveled at how symbols could not only be felt and heard but how they shaped our thoughts, actions, and emotions. So, while living in California in 2014, Watts channeled his artistic energy into everything he could create, even organizing independent shows for artists outside of traditional spaces. Although his creative practice flowed freely at the time, he felt it lacked direction.
In 2019, Watts' fascination with hieroglyphs returned, leading him to create his own alphabet and number system based on sound while blindfolded. This wasn't just about communication. It was about cultivating intuition, the often overlooked nudges of the Spirit. This sparked a new purpose: creating art that utilizes the physical to reach the psycho-spiritual core of the individual.
Watts' vision aims to shift the way we experience art both internally and externally. Everything we create is alive. So imagine not just analyzing a painting but feeling its energy through all of your senses! Watts wants his work to unveil the unseen, inviting viewers to be aware of our dance with the mystical.
In a word, Watts strives for transcendence. His craft is an exploration of the space in between thought, using creation to cultivate innate psychic awareness. Just like listening isn't limited to our ears, experiencing art shouldn't be confined to the intellect; it's about opening all of our senses and embracing the totality of consciousness.
Chris Watts - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
Chris Watts, a New York-based artist, delves into the language of the spiritual; exploring the power of and the relationship we have with the unseen.
Having lived in San Francisco for nearly a decade, Chris has carved his own lane, initiating and organizing multi-dimensional experiences outside the confines of traditional galleries. Driven by a desire to enhance our connection to the mystical, he has created an alphabet and number system inspired by hieroglyphs to cultivate our intuitive awareness. Chris's work invites viewers on a mystical journey, beyond the spoken word, into the realm of the unseen, using creation and intuition as a vehicle to experience total consciousness.
The Elegance Of A Pearl Rests In The Deepest Ocean, Acrylic On Canvas, 36x51 in, 2024 © Chris Watts
INTERVIEW
First of all, let's talk about your background. When did you get interested in art? And what training helped you become the artist you are today?
When I was 16, I became not only interested in art but obsessed. It was Picasso who actually got me into creating. I remember asking the teacher why he was praised and revered as this great artist, but he painted in such a strange way. And when I began to study him and those who came before him, I began to see this incredible thread form into a tapestry of artists who shaped art history. At that moment, I was hooked. What helped me become the artist today was love + obsession. I use these words because art is all I think about, and even then, it was all I thought about; I let it consume me & now here I am.
What initially drew you to using painting as your primary medium?
The physicality of painting and how your whole body is involved in a painting. Also, when I'm painting—when I'm really in flow, I'm not there. It's when I'm painting I get to commune with the divine. I get to do this with any creation that comes through me, but painting is where it happens most of the time now.
Cosmic Justice & The Blood Of The Oppressor, Acrylic On Canvas, 36x30 in, 2024 © Chris Watts
What inspired you to create your own hieroglyphic alphabet and number system?
Ancient Africa/Egypt is the main inspiration, and many others, but a key inspiration in this development is R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz and his books, specifically Esoterism & Symbol and also Symbol And The Symbolic.
How do you use symbols and imagery in your paintings to connect viewers with the mystical?
As a species, we are innately drawn to images and symbols. This is why, in many religions throughout the world, the image or symbol is what begins to connect us to something personal & familiar, but through that, the symbol connects us to something beyond ourselves. So, the symbol or image becomes a vehicle for consciousness, and this is one of the main reasons I am fascinated by symbols and use them in my work. I utilize symbols as a way for the viewer to forget the "me," so to speak.
Your system bypasses traditional language. Can you explain how it aims to cultivate intuitive awareness?
My language (which is ever-evolving) aims to cultivate intuitive awareness (also mentioned above) by forgetting the "me". What I mean by this is we often bring our own associations to what we are seeing (which is natural), but if we can turn the "me" off for a second, we can actually feel something communicating with us; this "something" often uses feelings instead of words. I hope my language can act as a key, guiding the viewer to "decode" what is being communicated so they can forget the "me" and listen to what the work wants to convey.
Open Like Heaven & As Wise As Fire, Acrylic On Canvas, 36x51 in, 2024 © Chris Watts
Resurrection - Journey Through the Afterlife, Oil On Canvas, 48x36 in, 2021 © Chris Watts
Can you walk us through your process of creating a new painting?
Ever since I developed my language, every new painting I help bring into the world comes to me through meditation. I say "help bring into the world" because I feel like the ideas that reveal themselves to me are alive and have asked me to help "create" them. Once the idea takes root in my consciousness, and as I start painting, the idea takes over me. There are times when I add my suggestions or hyper-focus on an element in the work, but this is when I remember to move out of the way and let the idea flow, and this is when the painting or work is usually on its way to being done.
Other than your own hieroglyphs, are there any other recurring themes or symbols that appear frequently in your work?
The Sun, Moon & other celestial/planetary objects, The Void from which all things come & actual Hieroglyphs.
Are there any artists or movements that inspire your artistic exploration?
Currently I am inspired by African Art, Javier Senosian, Eduardo Neira, Margiela, Hilma Af Klint, Stevie Wonder , Issey Miyake, James Turrell & most importantly My Son & My Wife. I don't know how all of these connect but somehow all of these wonders are inspiring & informing my work in some way shape or form.
Souls, Acrylic On Canvas, 26x22 in, 2024 © Chris Watts
Do you have any upcoming projects or exhibitions where viewers can experience your world?
At the moment I'll be a part of a group show in Rome at the end of June. I'm focusing on creating right now & if someone feels curious about my world or my work or nature or anything they find interesting or fun, I would love to share a conversation with anyone willing to reach out!
And lastly, how do you see your work evolving as you continue exploring the mystical in your art?
I love this question because I have many ever-evolving visions I want to see come to life! As I continue creating, I see myself designing & creating sacred sites, contributing to city design so the city can feel more natural, public sculptures, site-specific pieces similar to James Turrell, and being asked to design a place of worship for people of any religion. On another scale, I see myself putting together shows where the audience feels like they are a part of something mystical. At the end of the day, my aim is for people to recognize the Mystical in the mundane or ordinary so that our very existence becomes mystical and extraordinary simply because we are alive and present with every breath.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
