Artwork by Kathie Olivas courtesy of Gallery1988
miserychildren.com | gallery1988.com
My current body of work, entitled the "Misery Children" series focuses on the
constant social desire to assign "cuteness." This often serves as a means to
make something innocent and more appealing, therefore, non-threatening.
Perhaps this allows us to comfort ourselves. My questions are based on the
discomfort of "what if"-- what if these sweet creatures had other ideas? What
if they knew something we were afraid to open our eyes to? Would they protect
themselves; would they be able to adapt to a war torn environment and develop
their own defense mechanisms? The characters are meant to evoke a nostalgic
reaction that reflects isolation, fear, and an uncertainty; yet, at the same
time they serve as empowered alter egos. This series is presented as a satirical
look at how fear affects our sense of reality. The characters perform as
narrators in lonely worlds that each explores individually, creating his or
her own perspective, and thus, own reality. As our hosts, the ensemble provides
a sense of comfort, the reminiscent style is soothing, yet the mood is dark.
As children, they evoke a sense of temporality; childhood serves as a starting
ground, a place where things begin.
Inspired by early American portraiture that often depicted children as small
adults in an idealized new land, the characters parallel this vision within
their own sense of post-apocalyptic conformity, uniquely documenting their
own stories in a mysterious brave new world.
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