Chaos theory · order from disorder
Deep Thought
Mccreedy’s work emerges from four essential pillars: a singular devotion to one colour; a profound dialogue with the heroes of Abstract Expressionism; a sustained fascination with Chaos Theory; and an abiding reverence for the natural world.
Studio guide
Ask the studio
About the work, the blue, the series, the chaos. Answers are drawn only from the studio’s published words.
Chaos Theory
The Butterfly Effect Trio
Mccreedy’s fascination with Chaos Theory, first kindled in his youth, permeates his artistic philosophy. The theory’s embrace of unpredictable, interdependent systems — shaped by innumerable, hyper-sensitive variables — mirrors the complexity of the modern world. For Mccreedy, Chaos Theory is not simply a scientific principle but a metaphorical framework through which he interprets existence. It reflects the volatile interplay of global politics, the dislocation of time and place, the dissolution of traditional identities, and the accelerating spiral of climate change. His abstractions, therefore, are visual meditations on disorder — aesthetic expressions of the beauty and fragility inherent in chaos itself.
01
Blue
Since his early twenties, Mccreedy has cultivated a monochromatic language of blue — a lifelong pursuit that ultimately led him to develop his own uniquely intense pigment. His exploration of blue is both meditative and tempestuous: he is soothed by its serenity yet magnetically drawn to the turbulence that resides within it. In this duality, his pigment becomes almost autobiographical. Within his paintings, blue is not merely a colour but the central protagonist — the living subject of the work itself. His signature hue, Mccreedy Blue , evokes what he describes as an “unspeakable effect,” a visceral resonance that transcends verbal expression.
02
Abstract Expressionism
The great figures of Abstract Expressionism — Pollock, Rothko, and de Kooning — serve as enduring sources of inspiration for Mccreedy. Their gestural freedom and emotional intensity echo powerfully throughout his practice. “Forget the grid, and to hell with order,” he once remarked. “I need to celebrate the colour blue and the chaos of my strokes in a grand way.”
03
Chaos Theory
Mccreedy’s fascination with Chaos Theory, first kindled in his youth, permeates his artistic philosophy. The theory’s embrace of unpredictable, interdependent systems — shaped by innumerable, hyper-sensitive variables — mirrors the complexity of the modern world. For Mccreedy, Chaos Theory is not simply a scientific principle but a metaphorical framework through which he interprets existence. It reflects the volatile interplay of global politics, the dislocation of time and place, the dissolution of traditional identities, and the accelerating spiral of climate change. His abstractions, therefore, are visual meditations on disorder — aesthetic expressions of the beauty and fragility inherent in chaos itself.
04
Nature
Mccreedy’s profound reverence for nature is rooted in his South African upbringing, where the raw grandeur of the landscape instilled in him a lifelong sense of wonder. This connection is palpable in his work: the rhythm of tides, the shifting of light, and the organic imperfection of natural forms all find their echoes in his canvases. For Mccreedy, nature is not merely subject matter but the ultimate unifying force — the thread that binds humanity to the cosmos.