MICHEL MODELL v.11
Baltimore, MD
PORTFOLIO> Upon Joy Evil
My paintings investigate how humor facilitates the exposure of anomies; social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values within a community. Humor is not the end, but a means to afford access to topical issues and provides a fulcrum point between two simultaneous but oppositional viewpoints. This dichotomy of disposition is ever-present as I navigate through issues of personal identity, contemporary crisis, art history revisionism and globalization of information.
Cultural insight is layered behind comedic intent by way of archetypes built out of saturated transparent forms. My subjects are iconic and graceless, brought to life by a high-key and highly synthetic watercolor palette inspired by the fluorescent hues dotting consumer packaging, haute couture fashion and graphic novels. These paintings are bawdy, absurd and ridiculous often steeped with visual and verbal puns, and themes of camp, satire and irony. Be disgusted, be appalled, laugh out loud or snort in protest. I promise I won’t tell if you indulge in a secret laugh.