Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Takashi Murakami is having an exhibition in Hong Kong at the Gagosian until Feb 9th. link to the article and video
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GR: You paint in oil, can you talk about the difference vs painting in acrylic and why you choose to paint in oil? EB: I paint in oil because it is the best way to finish a painting for me. I typically start my paintings with graphite and move to acrylic washes before moving to oil. This works well for me because I can quickly establish my values and basic color structure. The whole process of painting to me is a push and pull between building up detail and then destroying what isn’t necessary to the story or composition of the painting. The reason that I constantly obscure, break down, scrape down my paintings is because I want to avoid any part of my painting feeling too precious. My process of painting is just as important as the content and I believe that they should complement each other. Oil is my weapon of choice because it allows me to create depth and the build up of layers that acrylic cannot. GR: Your subject matter seems to pose a lot of people hanging out. Can you talk about what you’re thinking and feeling with some of the images? EB: My subject matter is a mix between documenting moments in my life, fabricated or candid, and painting people I find interesting that through the act of painting I can create a sense of emotion and sometimes romanticized life style. Though a painting of mine may contain elements of beauty or nature, it is through the lens of chaos and destruction. I want to recreate the sense of nihilism in my paintings that I see in life. Everything must be destroyed in order to obtain the kind of knowingly distructive lives we live. People I paint may drink, smoke, do some drugs, ride motorcycles, skateboard, play in rock and roll bands, and make questionable decisions. These are often the most creative and inspiring people that I know because they are authentic. Painting for me is relative to that balance of destruction and altered perceptions. I want to create paintings that build up layers in a way that invoke an altered state and sense of derelict freedom that I see in my subjects. GR: Your work has a traditional element to it. Can you talk about your influences? Are any from centuries ago? EB: My influences are mainly contemporary painters like John Currin, Nicolas Uribe and Kent Williams, and like them I have ultimate respect for the classics like Lucian Freud, Sargent, Sorrolla, and Goya. GR: I know you’re into music, rock, etc, just through your attire, can you talk about that, and if it touches your art? EB: Although I don’t play any instruments, music is a big passion of mine. I love going to shows, and many of my friends play is totally rad bands. I am mostly into heavy metal and good rock and roll, and lately I have been mostly into bands with psychedelic and folk influences. In some ways...
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Sarah Lee, a Northern Californian graduated from Art Center and has created thought provoking pieces that often feature animals depicting poignant scenes. She’ll be part of Living Depictions opening this weekend at GR2. GR: A lot of you work features Apes, especially in an older piece for the Game Over exhibition at GR. Can you talk about why apes appear in your work? SL: Why not apes? In a way they become more interesting to look at outside. With apes, essentially they’re all doing human things, but rather than portray a human I’d rather the audience think of the subject as a simpler creature, of one who acts purely out of basic emotion to simplify the narrative. Apes are a reflection of who we are in some ways, the brut power of their strength and their sensitive nature. Can you talk about the political nature of your work? SL: The world is a jungle and you’re just trying to survive in it. In addition, Darwin’s theory: “The survival of the fittest,” because it’s a “dog it dog world” out there. GR: You mentioned you went around the world. How does that impact your art work? SL: Well my work refencences a lot of old world storytelling from various cultures across the globe. I love learning about folklore, myths etc and applying that inspiration back into my work. GR: Can you talk about the process of your pieces? The colors are interesting. SL: Usually wood paper with acrylic, but my work is a jungle sometimes. It gets to a point where I dont know what’s in there anymore. Mixed media works. GR: Tell me about your latest works? SL: My lastest work, “No Reservstions” is about Meat. Meat: divine creature that humans are desperately trying to devour. Except that the animals have had enough, but in reality there’s no way to escape their fate. Perhaps a look at food culture’s evolution with food perversion as promoted by shows like Anthony bourdain’s. Also with that same wording these animals are ready to strike with no reservations. With no meat there would be no reservations at restaraunts.
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James Jean Parallel Lives – 1000 copies, signed! We have it in stock. (GR Store) [youtube]oUrgUl_Ckig[/youtube]
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