Banners x Douglxss: gliβΊch Gallery, Marfa TX
π¨ππͺβΊπ€π© ππ’πππ¦π³πΊ, ππ’π³π§π’ ππ (2024)
Digital painting
From the series ππ«ππ§ π©ππ ππ€ππ
This piece holds a special place in my portfolio as my first 1:1 commission, requested by Derek Edwards (@derekedws), an avid collector of my works and one of the owners and of gliβΊch Gallery.
gliβΊch, founded in 2022, is an analog space for digital objects, existing at the intersection of Marfa, Texas and the internet. The gallery, dedicated to on-chain art, provides storytelling, resources, and education across its physical and digital spaces.
In creating this piece, I wanted to blend a bit of imagination with reality in the distinctive setting of Marfa. The gallery's stark white facade, leaning into shadow, would serve as the anchor, contrasting with the elements I've added using thick, and of course, clumsily applied impasto brush strokes.
I wanted to add an element that could symbolize Marfa's practical roots amidst its recent artistic evolution - so the iconic water tower was added in the distance. Also, I used my rig, βBig Redβ, parked in the foreground, to act as a bridge between my trucking life and this new and interesting space I've seemed to find myself in.
In addition, I felt there was more interest needed to the lower left grid intersection, so I added a hovering DeLorean to the scene. Nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia right? I think it adds a whimsical, sci-fi touch, to it all. A DeLorean parked outside with thrusters on, as if Doc Brown, Marty, or Parzival just arrived from another time or dimension, ready to explore the intersection of digital and physical art. Or perhaps they're not just here for the "networked digital objects with few external dependencies" - maybe they've come to investigate the mysterious Marfa lights as well?
As usual, I used a limited brush set for the piece, but I think my choice of maxed out impasto settings helps to create a visual "glitch", as if the scene is caught between dimensions - part real, part imagined. I believe that this technique helps to alter the viewer's perception a bit, and also prompts one to think of the interaction between these clumsily applied digital strokes, the clean lines of the gallery and Marfa's surrounding semi-arid landscape. Does it really make one question the boundaries between physical and digital art, much like gliβΊch Gallery itself does? Or is all of it just a bunch of nonsense? I'm thinking the former :)
During my process, I often wonder about the nature of art & reality in this digital age; and the intersection of different worlds - traditional art, digital art, trucking, science fiction, and nature. My aim for this piece was to create a moment where these diverse elements collide, and hopefully invites a viewer to question their perceptions, see the potential for beauty in unexpected places, and even consider how art can bridge diverse perspectives and experiences.
Glitch Gallery, Marfa TX| 2024 | 7680 x 4320px | Digital Painting
