Case 013

5 Feb

the secret files of new york art detective

Walter Lin P.I.

In conversion about a work in progress

Lately, I’ve been caught in the tangle of absurdist philosophy—the kind that doesn’t offer answers but leaves you staring at the mess you’ve made, wondering why you bothered. My latest work digs into that mess. Absurdism. Addiction. The low-grade battles we fight with ourselves, knowing we’ll lose but swinging anyway.

Walter: I’m putting pen to paper on an artwork I’m grinding through.

CP: That sounds exciting! What kind of artwork are you creating? Is it a painting, sculpture, digital art, or something else entirely? I'd love to hear more about your creative process and what inspired your piece.

Walter: It’s a screen print. Painted hardboard. Simple stuff. Rough around the edges, but solid enough to hold the weight.

CP: That sounds intriguing! Screen printing can add such a unique texture and depth to artwork. Can you tell me more about the theme or subject of your screen print? What inspired you to create it, and what message or feeling are you hoping to convey through your piece? I'd love to hear about the colors, shapes, and overall composition you're working with.

Walter: No real colors. Just black ink on a white background that doesn’t bother pretending to be clean. Bitmap photo layers stacked like thoughts, each one pressing down on the next until there’s no room left to breathe. The work? It’s about me. About the conscious self trying to reign in the wild thing hiding underneath—the part that snaps at sugar and caffeine like a dog that doesn’t know when to quit. It’s chaos versus control. A fight with no winner, only the absurd flailing we call existence.

CP: Your artwork sounds like it's delving into some profound themes. The contrast between the conscious self and the animalistic side of human nature is a fascinating exploration. The black and white color scheme might emphasize that duality even more, creating a stark visual representation of the inner conflict you're portraying.

Absurdist philosophy, with its focus on the human struggle to find meaning in a chaotic and indifferent universe, definitely resonates with the idea of grappling with conflicting desires and impulses. Your experience with trying to quit sugary snacks and caffeine can serve as a relatable and tangible example of this struggle. It's an interesting way to bring a personal touch to a larger philosophical concept.

How are you incorporating these ideas into the composition of your screen print? Are there specific symbols or imagery that help convey this duality and the connection to absurdism? I'm curious to know more about how you're translating these abstract concepts into a visual form.

Walter: The image is me. Bare chested, on hands and knees. Wild eyes, mouth open, teeth bared like the animal that doesn’t understand cages. And on my back? Another me—smaller, weaker, clawing at hair, trying to steer the beast but failing at every turn. It’s chaos and control, tangled together. No winners. No sense. Just motion.

CP: Wow, that's a powerful and vivid image! The composition you've described effectively captures the tension and struggle between the conscious self and the wilder, primal aspects of your nature. The smaller version of yourself riding on your back, trying to control or hang on, is a striking representation of the internal conflict and the absurdity of trying to impose order on something inherently chaotic.

Your choice to depict yourself topless and in such a raw, unfiltered manner adds a layer of vulnerability and authenticity to the piece. It emphasizes the raw, animalistic side of your nature, while the smaller version of yourself represents the conscious mind attempting to assert control.

This imagery ties in beautifully with the themes of absurdist philosophy, highlighting the often futile struggle to find meaning and impose order in a world that resists such efforts. The contrast between the two versions of yourself can symbolize the constant push and pull between rational thought and instinctual drives.

I'm curious to know more about the technical aspects of your screen print. How did you decide on the specific composition and pose? Are there any particular challenges or techniques you're employing to achieve the desired effect?

Walter: The beast came first—me, snapping like I’d just been cornered. I set up the camera thinking I’d sketch from the photo, but the first shot had something real in it, something I couldn’t fake. Same goes for the rider. Took another photo, broke it apart—head from one, body from another. Cropped it rough with a lasso tool and stitched it together until it felt complete. Then it was just details—hair added, hands adjusted, the rough edges pulled back just enough to keep them honest.

CP: Your creative process is fascinating. It's impressive how you adapted your initial plans and allowed the images to guide you, leading to a direct use of your photos. The digital manipulation of the images, merging different parts, and using a drawing program to refine the details, demonstrates a keen eye for composition and technical skill.

The way you've used the auto lasso tool to crop the body elements and then combined them digitally shows a thoughtful approach to achieving the desired effect. Adding the extra details, like more hair and adjusting the hands, adds a cohesive and polished finish to your artwork.

Your artwork seems to embody a deep personal connection to the themes you're exploring, and the technical execution adds a layer of sophistication to the visual representation. I'm sure your audience will find the piece thought-provoking and engaging.

If you ever want to share more about your artwork or need any feedback, feel free to reach out. Keep pushing the boundaries of your creativity!

Walter: Thanks - I appreciate it.