4. "Gator"

Artwork by: Studio Hash

Artwork Series: Reliquary Meme

Title: “Gator”

Dates: 1922- 2019

Art Medium: Walnut, Glass, & Acrylic on a 1920s postcard from Los Angeles

Size: 4.13 x 6.18 x 1.5"

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This Artwork has turned 💯!!!🎉

As someone inspired by conceptual artists like @mike_kelley_foundation or @yokoono, I’ve always emphasized the materials I choose for my work. So when setting out to make art about my indigenous landscape it felt prudent to source materials that were inherently local & authentic.

This postcard from 1922 represents a glimpse into Los Angeles 100 years ago and contemplates the roles we play in shaping our own narratives and the lasting veneer around this metropolis.

Reliquary Meme - “Gator,” reflects on feelings of belonging & displacement in a sprawling setting like Los Angeles. This portrayal of alligators feeding presents an allegorical nod to the booster mentalities that came with early settlers drawn to LA for real estate & media fortunes.

The phrase "We'll Leave Here Tomorrow," taken from the postcard's original sender in 1922, is depicted in a font akin to something you'd find in classic horror films. A pairing that plays to tropes within the genre, where protagonists cannot escape maleficent evils that seek to threaten their homes & families. A sense of eeriness is mirrored in communities affected by gentrification and rising living costs.

Intimate in size, this artwork's composition references various visual motifs found throughout the 20th century. The layered art object alludes to some of the artist's creative influences, such as On Kawara, Ed Ruscha, & Mel Bochner. All artists whose conceptual influence can be found throughout the piece. As overlapping layers of resin, glass, and acrylic paint intersect, they create 3D effects that offer a contemporary diorama-esque viewing experience.