I have decided that I would like my theme to be 'Inside Out', where I compare the inside to the outside, looking at inside people's heads, looking at silhouettes of faces with different colours, mediums and objects inside, representing a person's thoughts compared to what they actually say. An artist that stuck out to me was Alex Cherry, as he does a similar thing to this, using expressive colours and subjects.
Alex Cherry
Personal Life and Inspirations
As a child, Alex Cherry was heavily influenced by the works of Star Wars illustrator John Berkey. Then, as a teenager, the graphic novels and comic book stories of Frank Miller sparked his interest. Perhaps the most important ideological and political influence on Cherry's life so far has been UK graffiti artist Banksy. The recurring theme Cherry has embraced from youth through to adulthood is one of intelligent, insightful rebellion. What is most telling of his creative life is that he draws inspiration from and seeks to make parallels with music that strikes a chords in his artistic soul.
Career
Cherry's career clearly seems to be ascending. He is now one of the most sought-after contemporary American artists with a following that is growing every day. His art is edgy and insightful, blurring the distinction between what is perceived as deathly and what is beautiful. For the artist himself, these may be the same things. One of Cherry's best-selling works is the giclee print, Heaven in Her Arms, a modern abstract representation of an angel in silhouette. Its two-tone form and shadowed quality are intensified when viewed in a certain setting, such as a minimalist room, where it naturally draws the eye. Another of Cherry's highly sought-after illustrations is Open Your Eyes. This piece, depicting a silhouetted child against the backdrop of a smog-filled sky, speaks intently about the perceptions of beauty and danger. One of Cherry's more striking and controversial works, yet equally well-received by purchasers, is Enjoy the Silence. This illustration is aimed at the government's silence behind the official words about a number of domestic and international issues, ranging from environmental concerns to military activities. Perhaps one of the most poignant yet frightening of Cherry's illustrations is Time to Pretend. This is an image of a child set against the backdrop of the US flag (in black and white). The child, perhaps around ten and dressed in baggy trousers, sneaker and an orange Thomas the Tank Engine T-shirt, has an expression devoid of emotion and a handgun tucked in his belt.
Facts
- Each of Cherry's art illustrations is matched to a song.
- Cherry described himself as "a wit with dunces and a dunce with wits."
- He regards his art as the equivalent of heavy metal music.
