Picasso captured a spirit that had long existed in African sculpture when he fragmented the human body into expressive planes. Since Cubism, the distorted human figure has developed a close association with modernism, and although there are periodic returns to representational art, these carry with them a certain self consciousness. When painters seek to represent complex emotional depth, the distorted or abstracted form is usually the vehicle.

Contemporary representational artists such as John Currin and Eric Fischl(above) cultivate an extreme shallowness in their work: they focus their energy on the most superficial layers of reality. Currin has developed a remarkable Venetian technique that he uses to direct attention to the surface texture of his paintings. Analogous precedents, such as Titian and Velasquez, also focused on surfaces, but their canvases suggest an inner life beyond the paint.  Behind a Fischl painting one senses a great void, an emptiness emphasized by the unnatural arrangement of figures and by the vacuum of space that isolates them.

On the other side of the spectrum are artists who distort or abstract the figure but intend to show complex inner states. Laylah Ali‘s paintings often carry an emotional charge similar in intensity to Goya’s The Third of May, that feeling of inevitability in the face of suffering. Her figures, though, are cartoons painted on flat backgrounds. Their bodies are pared down to the emotive fundamentals necessary to spark empathy: eyes and mouths are drawn with the most care. Her ‘Greenheads’ are carefully arranged, and despite their simplified appearance, they evoke specific sociological positions.

Daniel Richter is a figurative painter closer to the Expressionist tradition: his distortions are painterly and evocative. With Richter, it’s like looking beneath the veil of Maya. His world is as black and infinite as deep space. The figures in his work are like polychromatic ghosts moving along deterministic paths. He reaches towards  the human soul in his paintings and comes back with nightmarish ectoplasm.

So, are there trends between these artists? Isolation of minds, maybe. A sense of determinism, of semi-sentient beings acting out unalterable scenes.  A sense of emptiness. Most notably, an inversion between realism of execution and emotional depth.

Portrait of an Artist

Lenworth McIntosh, AKA Joonbug, and I first linked up in New York three years ago. We were at some uptight midtown hotel for a Model U.N. conference, but instead of talking about the geopolitical ramifications of Israel’s policies against Palestine, our conversation lost it’s direction and quickly shifted to art, illustration, and design. Basically we hit it off in a sea of over ambitious, neurotic, “I’ll be President one day” types. Anyway, a few minutes later I found myself pleasantly surprised by the sketch book he produced from his bag. He had maybe 50 pieces he’d been “casually working on” that looked like they belonged under glass. It was immediately clear what a talented artist he was, but Joonbug isn’t a one trick pony. Over the past three years he’s done something that many artists find extremely difficult, turning talent into a sustainable livelihood. Today, Joonbug is making moves running his own clothing company, Fresh Kaufee. His tees and sweatshirts not only showcase his strong artistic gifts, but as I hinted at, his unique personality. Get this, each piece of clothing smells like fresh coffee. Now that’s branding. In his own words,

“Fresh Kaufee aims to wake up the dormant creatives of the world. The brand will motivate them to use and express their talents to further better themselves and become successful individuals. All the shirts smell like coffee because what’s a name without a lasting impression right? I am the sole owner and designer for the brand-i.e. I do just about everything… There are many different paths to success so hopefully my brand will inspire you in some way to choose the one that fits you, Espresso Self!”

We sat down with Joonbug to get the low down on everything Fresh Kaufee.

Kaufee Time With Joonbug

WGOF: So what’s so “Fresh” about Fresh Kaufee?

Well first things first-Thank you for interviewing me bro, sorry again for my hectic schedule, I’ll sleep someday. Fresh Kaufee is my little brainchild. Living by example, I aim: to inspire, to motivate, and to encourage all creative minds alike to pursue their dreams full force.  The freshness comes from my over-active imagination and hunger for originality. I’d rather re-draw something than copy it-adds pizzazz.

WGOF: How did you get started making t-shirts? What was the inspiration for your brand and how long have you been doing this?

That’s easy, by asking questions and taking some risks. I started back in 2009-though the idea sparked a bit before that-my inspiration was a cup of fresh coffee. I broke down the “caffeine” concept in my mind and it kept growing more interesting.

WGOF: You’re originally from Jamaica. How has that inspired you or shown up in your work as an artist/designer?

It’s crazy but when I think about it, I realize that I had been around coffee almost everyday I lived there, so maybe it’s my subconscious mind finally waking up. We had coffee crops and I used to eat the berries haha. We are very cultured folk so there are a couple ideas that relate to my years growing up there.

WGOF: Recently you did some work with Matisyahu. Tell us about that.

Yes, there was a Facebook contest passed on by a friend and I jumped on it-finished it before noon and submitted. Then came back a couple days later to a message from her telling me I was in the top six. My votes were significantly high and so was the feedback-positive and negative but that happens lol. I ended up winning and scored: 2 tickets to his show, a one on one in his tour bus, and a free copy of the tee. The guy is amazing and extremely well grounded. He offered us a fresh banana-how cool!

WGOF: What can we expect in the future from Fresh Kaufee?

Well I just released my first pullover hoody and looking forward to the spring line-up, there’s also a new logo that will be revealed in the New Year!

WGOF: Anything else you’d like to share?

I am the only owner and creative behind my brand so everything you see- I did it. I’m a certified goofball and I don’t care who knows- I embrace it like a boss!

Check out Fresh Kaufee’s new sweatshirts and be sure to keep it fresh.

If you’ve never seen this video (or even if you have!) and want something fun/interesting to watch, give this video a go.  It’s beautifully done, the music is a nice complement, and of course, it’s trippy as shit… (=

 

 
Have fun~

<3 A

Breaking Ground By Breaking Ice

When you were a kid, did you ever have to play that lame ice breaker game where you say a slogan followed by “in my pants?”  For instance, “taste the rainbow in my pants”… “just do it in my pants”… etc etc.  Well, this is the musical realization of that game because it is literally a paradise circus in my pants, caused by a massive attack in my pants.
 
Not only is the song utterly fantastic in my pants, but the music video is so provocative yet so artistic that it’s going to blow your mind.  The British duo Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall make up Massive Attack. This is the Zeds Dead Remix, and I don’t expect it to be the last.
 
So if you have the self restraint, listen to the song first without watching the video and just try to imagine what it would look like.  Then remove all sharp objects from the vicinity and strap yourself in.
 
Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix)
 

WARNING: This is very much (visually) uncensored

Since it’s Halloween weekend, I thought I’d share a devious treat I stumbled upon recently. Corpse Corp brings new meaning to the age old broism, “Shred til you’re dead!”
“Inspired by the gritty streets of NYC and the raw style borne from them, Corpse Corps Boards makes coffin-shaped skateboards fit for the cutthroat mentality of East Coast skating. Founders and lifelong skateboarders Drew McKenzie and Jordan Walczak understand the need to make a product strong enough to hold up to the daily abuse of skateboarding. From its humble beginnings as a DIY art project in McKenzie’s Manhattan apartment, Corpse Corps Boards has evolved into a full-fledged skateboard company now making two sizes of decks and a small run of high-quality softgoods.”

-Graham Hiemstra

Check out their website and keep on shreddin’, no hobby.