Studio III
Marcus Tuiasosopo
Artists Reasearch
Akira Toriyama
During his career, Toriyama created over 40 manga series. Akira Toriyama has always been very concerned about his work, not hesitating to redraw again and again the same illustration because he does not find it perfect. Thus, he spent many sleepless nights working, and often complains of lack of free time. Conversely, he hates to dwell on an illustration, wanting to finish it in one draw as soon as possible in order to judge the result quickly.
A massive influence on me and my artistic origin. From learning how to draw the characters he created, his style has forever been embedded into my own. I find that his style combines manga styles, with hints of fantasy, sci-fi, and realism aspects. I'm able to recognise his brilliance and take aspects of his many works to inspire some of my own.
no name, "Akira Toriyama", no date, Fandom wiki, 09/23
https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Akira_Toriyama
Jordan Casteel
Casteel creates colossal portraits of the people in her community, including former classmates at Yale University, where she received her MFA in 2014; street vendors and business owners in her Harlem neighborhood; and students from her classes at Rutgers University-Newark. Rendered in vibrant hues of amber, lavender, and indigo, Casteel’s oil paintings confront traditional notions of gender and race in portraiture, with the expressed purpose of featuring those who might not otherwise be portrayed on museum walls.
Similar to my own outlook on the gallery space, Casteel puts a magnifying glass on things that people look past. I take inspiration from her work in terms of taking the streets to the gallery.
Vicky Du, "Jordan Casteel stays in the moment", art 21, 2017, 08/23, https://art21.org/artist/jordan-casteel/
Jono Rotman
Photographer Jono Rotman explores the ongoing cataclysms within society, from the traumas of colonisation to the collision of civilisation and the natural world. Working with large-format film, and often producing works on a large scale, Rotman is attracted to subjects living on the edge of society who he brings to the forefront of his practice. Within his photographs, Rotman seeks to wield the potential of the analogue process to communicate spirit and narrative.
Although he's a solid photographer, my main inspiration from his installation. Simple and clean but very effective, especially in the elegant style he's trying to achieve whilst showing the gritty nature of the subject matter of his work.
no name, "Jono Rotman", Gow Langsford, 2015, 08/23, https://gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/artists/223-jono-rotman/
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley is an African-American portrait painter based in New York City, who is known for his highly naturalistic paintings of Black people, frequently referencing the work of Old Master paintings. "Wiley has gained recent acclaim for his heroic portraits which address the image and status of young African-American men in contemporary culture". Those were the words of The Columbus Museum of Art when describing his work.
I like the idea of portraying African-American youth as strong figures in their own right. I also like his style where the subjects almost look life-like. his style is intricate and very recognizable. I feel like I could learn a few things from Wiley and his practice. Interesting yet simple ideas that portray strength and also life, solid work with solid skills,
Debra N.Mancoff, Arts & Culture : Kehinde Wiley", Britannica, 2023, 06/23, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kehinde-Wiley
Michael Tuffery
His work is shaped by his research into and encounters with his Polynesian heritage while making use of Māori design. Many of his works explore colonialism and people's treatment of the environment. Renowned as a printmaker, painter, and sculptor, Tuffery has gained national and international recognition and has made a major contribution to New Zealand art.
I like the fact that he doesn't limit his subject matter to his own culture, though the influences and technique are reminiscent of many cultures, he conveys solid works with unique stories and meanings.
His art practice to me isn't amazing because of how he portrays his messages, but because of what the messages are. Like all previous artists, I find their work interesting and relatable, but it is in their own styles and version of similar narratives do I find more value in the research I do about them.
n0 name, "Michael Tuffery", The Central Art Gallery, 2020, 06/23, https://thecentral.co.nz/artists/michel-tuffery/overview/
Banksy
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation.
Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stencilling technique. His works of political and social commentary have appeared on streets, walls and bridges throughout the world.
No one can recreate his style to the T, but i have been looking at his work more closely and analysing ways i can incorporate his style into my own. i think the best thing I have taken away from his work is the use of figures and trying to put stand out colours on the focus point of the work. I found this helpful because it is clearer in the message your trying to send whereas I would often be lost and make it harder for the painting to be interpreted.
Will-Ellsworth-Jones, " The story behind Banksy, Smithsonian Magazine, 2013, 06/23, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-banksy-4310304/
Michael "Xeno" Langebeck
Not much is known about Xeno, but the artwork that I could find is solid. I like the graffiti style he has, they aren't generic kinds of work and it shows in every piece. I like the simplistic nature of the first and also the collage "Chicano style" that the second one has with its different elements that work well together.
no articles.
Fatu Feu'u
Feu'u's work is inspired by Polynesian art forms such as siapo (tapa cloth), tatau (tattoo), weaving, carving and ceremonial mask making.In these forms he uses a rich lexicon of motifs and compositional structures. His works frequently blend traditional and contemporary elements, incorporating a range of influences, inspirations, techniques and motifs from Samoa and Aotearoa and more generally from Euro-American to Pacific cultures.
Fa'asamoa is the unifying element of Feu'u's work. The term fa'asamoa is generally defined as 'the Samoan way'. The social structure of Samoan society is held together and actively maintained by an adherence to unwritten but understood cultural conventions embodied in fa'asamoa which binds family networks to traditional customs and ceremonies.
While primarily a painter, Feu'u explores a range of other mediums including bronze, wood and stone sculpture, pottery design, lithographs, woodcuts and glass works (both stained and etched). I feel his work and like the different ways he's able to portray the Fa'asamoa and its beauty.
No name, "Fatu Feu'u Bography", Brick Bay Scuplture, 06/23, https://www.brickbaysculpture.co.nz/fatu-feuu-bio
Rimoni/Raymond Sagapolutele
Raymond Sagapolutele is a Aotearoan born Samoan artist and self-taught photographer. He has worked for numerous editorial publications and exhibited widely in a range of group and solo exhibitions around Auckland spanning the last 10 years and is a part of the graffiti creative collective known as TMD.
“The narrative may change but the intent is always the same – honest dialogue with the viewer. My style of photography is based on observation with a little bit of the unconventional, this is not to confuse or frustrate but it is a method by which I empty my head of all the stories contained within.”
I relate to Rimonis work and how a lot of it highlights different aspects of both street and Samoan culture. his work is simple and complex at the same time, but his works that tell Samoan stories and convey beauty and pain at the same time.
no name, "HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - RAYMOND SAGAPOLUTELE", Coconet, 2022, 06/23, https://www.thecoconet.tv/coco-talanoa/humans-of-the-islands/humans-of-the-islands-raymond-sagapolutele-1/
Estevan Oriol
Estevan Oriol is an American of Mexican-Italian descent, photographer and music video director based in Los Angeles, California. His work has been featured in magazines, usually reflects Los Angeles urban and gang culture, and he has also photographed many celebrities.[1] He is also known for directing several music videos as well as for his partnership with Mister Cartoon for Joker Brand Clothing. He is affiliated with Soul Assassins.
I got familiar with Oriol's work around the sae time as Cartoons. His subject matter is similar to that of both Cartoon and Hernandez, shedding light on the normalities of their hood. I resonate with work from all three artists but researching more into Oriol, I discovered a pattern. He documents and photograph his friends and other people he knows. I find this idea really interesting, might have to incorporate that idea to my future work.
Shirly Ju, "From Prodigy to Kendrick Lamar: Famed Photographer Estevan Oriol Tells the Stories Behind His Most Iconic Shots", Okay Player, 2014, 06/23, https://www.okayplayer.com/originals/estevan-oriol-interview-famous-photographer.html
Doccumentary; LA Originals
Adan Hernandez
Adan Hernández is a modern artist whose work merges neo-expressionism with Chicano-noir. The aesthetics in his art evoke emotions of alienation, uncertainty, desperation and loss, which dominate the Chicano experience.
In describing his work, Hernández says, "The high drama and highly charged content in my work reflects the day-to-day epic struggle of life in the barrio. Here, the challenge to overcome overwhelming adversity, which we celebrate in films, is a common occurrence. I feel my work is about the priorities in my life and the experiences that have shaped it. These moments seek eternal life in my art.''
I first came across Hernandez's work when I was young watching a movie with my brothers. It was called 'Blood in, Blood out'. I noticed the paintings riddled throughout the movie and immediately fell in love with his style and mostly just his subject matter. Most of what he portrays in his work is simple to the eye but has deeper meanings that go over your head. I decided to revisit his work and learn more after rewatching the same movie.
Norma Martinez, Lauren Terrazas, "Fronteras: The Legacy Of Chicano Artist Adán Hernandez", Texas Republic Radio, 2021, 06/23, https://www.tpr.org/podcast/fronteras/2021-05-28/fronteras-the-legacy-of-chicano-artist-adan-hernandez
Mr. CARTOON
Mark Machado better known as Mr. Cartoon or more commonly just Cartoon, is an American tattoo artist and graffiti artist based in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the Harbor area of Los Angeles County, young Cartoon began airbrushing T-shirts and Lowrider cars before adopting the "Fineline Style" tattoo art style, which was developed in the California prison system.
Mister Cartoon is a renowned tattoo artist that has been know to "ink" famous celebrities from Beyonce to 50 cent to Kobe Bryant. This was the ultimate reason I stumbled across Cartoons work and his distinct style, where he draws and paints figures and objects that are significant to his heretical culture and the street culture he was raised around. I like his style as it peaks my interest and I find it relatable to my art practices and life story.
The clowns that show up in a lot of his artwork is linked to both a cultural Mexican figure called Paiaso/Paiasa, and also a very very famous quote amongst the LA street culture. "Smile Now, Cry Later". The art style is mixed with Mexican culture and graffiti art and I feel as if this style and what Cartoon portrays in his art is really specific and easy to click on.
Deborah Vankin, "Mister Cartoon, tattooist to the stars, draws on ‘memories and fantasies’ for first solo show", LA Times, 2023, 06/23, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-06-09/mr-cartoon-tattoo-graffiti-artist-solo-show-la
Documentary: LA Originals
