An Introduction To Pop Surrealsim or Lowbrow Art

 Pop Surrealism can also be called Lowbrow, or Lowbrow Art.  The term Lowbrow was in contrast to Highbrow art which often got recognition from art institutions. “Lowbrow” was coined in 1976 by Robert Williams when he named a book featuring his paintings “The Lowbrow Art of Robt. Williams”. Although he started this term, he doesn’t necessarily agree with it.  Williams himself referrers to this type of art as “cartoon- tainted abstract surrealism”. There are some who would say that Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow are two separate yet related categories with visible differences. Siblings if you will. However, I believe, they are one in the same.  There are some styles that move me more than others, but it is style rather than message, meaning or talent. I believe for these two terms to be different from one another; both styles would have to convey messages distinctly different from one another. Both Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow are based around the underground and have origins that encompass that culture. Here is an informative website with many different name suggestions for Pop Surrealism. http://www.voodoovelvet.com/supop2.htm. In this Hub I will be using the term Pop Surrealism to refer to this type of art.

Have you ever gazed into a painting and wished it were surrounding you; perhaps painted on every inch of your wall, enveloping you in its design? Waterfalls of emotion cascading down from the molding emptying into your soul, filling it with feelings so powerful they seep through your pours?  My passion for Pop Surrealism takes me right down the rabbit hole. Pop Surrealism is usually in the form paintings, yet may also be in the form of digital art, sculpture and even toys! They’re all fantastic. The technique is incredibly visual and clear, with a range of sarcastic, humorous or melancholy messages. Although, once you understand the style and range all are unmistakeingly Pop Surrealism.

Some of my favorite artists include, but are not limited to (by any means), Mark Ryden, Andrew Brando, Tim Bisk up, Camille Rose Garcia and Kukula.

Mark Ryden, ohhhh Mark Ryden, how I wish your studio was my home. Surrounded by skeletons, books, paintings, antique toys, statues and knickknacks’, Mark Ryden paints his masterpieces. Mark Ryden is a leader in the West Coast Pop Surrealism movement, and a notable figure by anyone with knowledge of the style. According to the biography on www.markryden.com, “Upon first glance Ryden’s work seems to mirror the Surrealists’ fascination with the subconscious and collective memories. However, Ryden transcends the initial Surrealists’ strategies by consciously choosing subject matter loaded with cultural connotation. His dewy vixens, cuddly plush pets, alchemical symbols, religious emblems, primordial landscapes and slabs of meat challenge his audience not necessarily with their own oddity but with the introduction of their soothing cultural familiarity into unsettling circumstances.
Viewers are initially drawn in by the comforting beauty of Ryden’s pop-culture references, then challenged by their circumstances, and finally transported to the artist’s final intent – a world where creatures speak from a place of childlike honesty about the state of mankind and our relationships with ourselves, each other and our past.”

 Andrew Brandou and Tim Biskup were roomies in college. Brandou’s paintings take an innocent approach to some disturbing topics. He paints animals in obscure and humorous human situations. I am partial to his work that looks like pages from Little Golden Books. In a quote from an interview by Pirate Cat (Feb. 2006), on Fecalface.com, Brandou describes his art. “Well, the composition I use is often classic symmetrical composition like the kind you might find in religious work, and I often refer to Japanese woodblock prints, and of course Audubon’s work. I like things to be easy to read, but I don’t want you reaching the end of a sentence and wandering off. Using animal figures is a way to bring nostalgia into a piece, which is disarming. This gives me the confidence to talk about otherwise ugly things, and trust that the viewer will follow along. For instance, my series hell was about two college kids that went out one night and got lost in the snow. Problem was, they were so high on meth that they could not describe where they were to 911 operators. After a long night in the cold, they finally got separated and died. They were found days later in the gravel pit they had so desperately tried to describe. I found the story moving, and wanted to present it as a fairy tale along the lines of a Grimm story. the use of animals in the series helped me bring it to that zone of my mind, and helped me simplify the imagery so that it would be easy for the viewer to digest and follow. One of the problems with using animals is that you can fall into the trap of telling gags, or one liners. "Oh look, the lil animals are snorting cocaine! heeheehee!" I’ve tried to keep some political or social statement in a lot of my work, but funny animals are funny animals after all.”  Here is a link to that interview. http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=92

Tim Biskup has a distinctive style from that of his former roommate. He uses many complex colors and designs in his work. Unusual creatures fill the spaces of his canvas in unusual symmetry. He also produces vibrant and lively vinyl figures and sculptures. His style resembles that of 1950’s illustrations. The shows Samurai Jack and Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends are some places he pulls inspiration from. He worked closely around the people who created/designed these shows. He has collaborated with artists around the globe. According to timbiskup.com his work is “inspired by mid-century modern design infused with a healthy dose of punk rock energy.”  www.timbiskup.com

Camille Rose Garcia’s work is dark and drippy. Garcia’s melancholy and vivid images suck the viewer in and refuse to let go.The biography on her site describes her work as follows. “Her paintings of creepy cartoon children living in wasteland fairy tales are critical commentaries on the failures of capitalist utopias. Creative influences include Phillip K. Dick, William Burroughs, Henry Darger,Walt Disney, as welll as politically aware bands like The Clash and Dead Kennedys. Her recent solo show, Ultraviolenceland, explored ideas of violence and empire.”  www.camillerosegarcia.com

Finally, I’ve come to Kukula. Kukula’s pieces are usually oil or acrylic on wood. Like Garcia they invite you to join a melancholy fairy tale land. She is the only artest from the ones I have previously mentioned that is not from the United States. She was born in a remote village near Tel Aviv. Because her town was mostly inhabited by Holocaust survivors, her paintings shine with a corrupt innocent imagination. Kukula’s biography describes her art as “[an] attempt to reconcile real life horror with fantasy life sweetness…Kukula's paintings center on feminine, doll-like figures, often surrounded by objects with sometimes clear, sometimes obscure symbolic meaning. The work registers the influences of both classical European art forms and contemporary pop culture. In her figures' poses Kukula recalls classical portraiture, yet the style is manifestly modern and pop-influenced. Kukula's compositions thereby disclose her personal struggles as mediated by a rich multi-cultural heritage.” Her work is a beautiful site to be seen.  www.kukulaland.com

If you enjoyed this Hub, I highly recommend checking out these books. Please leave comments about your favorite Pop Surreal artist.