March 2012
36 posts
“What drives so much of what we do is desire—desire of all forms. Sexual, emotional, spiritual, for personal connection. And desire is so easily transformed, sublimated, or warped. The bait of excitement and desire is juxtaposed against the depiction of the boredom that seems so present in our time.”
—Terry Rodgers (via)
hi kiuk
It’s been years since anyone’s ever called me that…
Do you think you have some fake-y friends?
Sometimes.
I do worry that there are people that dislike the nature of who I am and my interests. My fixation on slightly taboo subjects such as narcissism, indulgence, and all the bad stuff that goes on in controlled contexts such as night clubs. I’ve been pretty good about keeping all of that stuff where it’s supposed to be.
Herron is really cool because there are less people that might be judgmental about that. Everyone’s really friendly and down to earth, honest people.
I can’t complain so I just keep doing my own thing.
And when I do have fake friends, I don’t hang out with them a lot because I think I bore them… or I’m not that cool. Or I’m socially awkward etc etc.
I just want to add on that it may be cool that you are so polite when brought upon with criticism, I'd like to see you be less apologetic with your responses.
I’ve gotten that before. I’m always cautiously thinking about how I’m perceived by people. How my art contributes to that.. so I tone it down a notch sometimes…
I'm assuming that as an artist, you're quite sensitive. Is your affection of Las Vegas and its lights brought upon the fact that you spend the majority of your time in Indiana? To be so far away and to come home as a young, 21-year old on the holidays definitely opens up you up to the city-and I wasn't surprised to see the change as soon as you turned 21. Do you think that this "Las Vegas" facet of your work and yourself is a conscious direction or not?
I think it might be. A lot of my friends that have turned 21 quickly went through their clubbing phase after a period of about 6 months to a year. This can be frustrating for me sometimes, because I’m all the way out here in the middle of Indiana restless and ready to go.
When I come back, they’re pooped, but the glamour of it all suddenly becomes something I have to rush to appreciate because my time is limited. So I’m assuming that being quiet in Indy makes me fond of things that I can’t have. Things that are off limits.
I can tell you this much, I grew up de-sensitized and unimpressed by anything Las Vegas had to offer culturally, visually, or intellectually. Moreover, being sheltered by suburban sprawl put me at an odd position. I was naiive, innocent, and unaware of exactly what happens on the strip. I left for Indiana in this state.
I was on my first summer break when I turned 21 and that’s when things got pretty weird.
And when I return, I’ll probably become frustrated again. I’ll want to leave for another city. It’s a cycle.
And..it’s more of an unconscious decision. I never sit down and say “I want this artwork to be about Las Vegas.”
I just feel something and then paint it. Whether it’s memories, fondness, or frustration for it. It really all ties back to my own passions at the moment. Right now, I’m passionate about constructing realities that are hyper-real or fantastic, and not being apologetic about how how those feelings play out.
Put that all together and presto! Vegas club life.
I hope that answers it..
And she prays still, not to a god in specific. Maybe to the Vegas moon.
Praying, for some reason, that the Las Vegan jungle cat is still in her. The one that narrows her eyes and lifts her chin just slightly so that the magenta lights fall and create stark shadows on her lips and cat eyes. She doesn’t care who they are, they’re just tourists. They’re just looking for that “Hangover” night to brag about when they get home.
And her? She’s just looking for a couple of drinks and a kiss. Because when the sun comes up, desire becomes longing and she never fared well with that.
Her name is Ashley Vegas. She’s from Paradise, the city that never loves.
"And she prayed to the Vegas moon."
“Release me from my human feelings. Turn me into an animal.”
I wanted to let you know that you/your artwork inspired a new Myth character! Something about your work just has this amazing sensual expression, and lately the colors have been so intense and wonderful!
Really?!? Wow I’m so flattered!!
I just took a look, he looks so passionately drunk on love, in almost a tragic way. The expression is telling!
I’m really interested in seeing this character evolve over time!!
