In the latest exhibition at Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Northern Irish artist Mark Francis transforms the gallery with “Chroma,” a collection that bridges sight and sound through a stunning interplay of color and rhythm. Running from September 5 to November 21, 2026, the exhibition invites you into a realm where paintings vibrate with the energy of sound frequencies and resonance.
Francis’ work transforms canvases into visual soundscapes. His use of color becomes an acoustic phenomenon, allowing lines to oscillate and reverberate. With titles like “Sound Echo,” “Metronomic Sound,” and “Veil,” the works tempt you to interpret their hidden harmonies rather than spell out their meanings. The lines and colors seem to pulse, blurring the boundaries between visual and audio experiences as he revitalizes these canvases.
Discover vibrant visual expressions in The Camo Series, which similarly uses bold geometries and motifs to bring cultural narratives to life.
Science becomes a starting point, not an answer
Francis often begins with inspirations from microscopic imagery, crystalline formations, and biological networks. His paintings echo the hidden patterns seen in scientific imaging. However, these elements are not merely replicated; instead, they serve as exploratory triggers. This approach results in a dynamic tension—structures appear only as fleeting traces, evoking familiarity and mystery without revealing full clarity. He turns these scientific inspirations into art.
Chroma lets control and chance share the canvas
The balance of control and spontaneity drives Francis’ creative process. While meticulously planned, his paintings frequently come alive through alla prima techniques, where decisions are made instantaneously on canvas. This method invites color, gesture, and texture to interact, ensuring the final image results from a delicate negotiation between deliberate planning and chance. These techniques illustrate how he shapes his ideas into artworks.
These paintings are not static images but immersive fields of rhythm and resonance. “Chroma” reflects a spectrum where unseen sound influences perception, translating invisible forces into visual forms. Alongside the Frankfurt exhibition, Francis’ works appear in “Sea of Sound” for the Republic of San Marino at the 2026 Venice Biennale, further probing the territory where vision enhances auditory understanding. The artist transcends our perception by combining visual and auditory experiences.
Explore how another artist merges visual art with auditory elements in Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Symphony of Bells, where sound transforms the perception of visual spaces.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the central theme of Mark Francis’ Chroma exhibition?
The central theme of Mark Francis’ “Chroma” exhibition is the bridging of sight and sound through a stunning interplay of color and rhythm. The exhibition features artworks where paintings vibrate with the energy of sound frequencies and resonance, transforming canvases into visual soundscapes.
How does Mark Francis use scientific imagery in his work?
Mark Francis uses scientific imagery as exploratory triggers rather than direct replications. Inspirations from microscopic imagery, crystalline formations, and biological networks echo in his paintings, creating dynamic tension and evoking familiarity and mystery without full clarity.
What techniques does Mark Francis use in his paintings?
Mark Francis uses a combination of meticulous planning and alla prima techniques in his paintings. This method allows color, gesture, and texture to interact, resulting in a balance between deliberate planning and spontaneous decisions made on the canvas.