Dysfunctional Art

In it's first incarnation, this piece was entitled Aviator Lamp and it was a functional light fixture. The shade was made of 28 pairs of aviator sunglasses and a stainless steel mixing bowl. The base I fashioned out of aluminum and cement.
In it's current state, Dysfunctional Art manifests a repurposing (or de-purposing) of the initial intention into a purely nonfunctional, poetic entity. As if it has been left in an abandoned building to decompose and be abused by squatters, It is now dented, scratched and pockmarked and is being overtaken by vines, fungus or worms, as represented by the pink cord that snakes through it. Instead of useful light it now gives off a flickering spark as if a short circuit is taking place.
Akin to a Halloween decoration I am employing the aesthetics of disharmony. As well as hoping to create a macabre entertainment I am attempting to make a commentary on the slick design and slick marketing which creates the illusion of permanence and invincibility both in the product and the product's creator.
View more of my work at www.corcoranart.net

Stuff For Sale

Stuff For Sale 2009

Acrylic on Canvas

32" x 43"

In 2008 while I was selling a few items in the street in New York's East Village. A woman noticed my display and took a picture of it saying it would make a good subject for a painting. Realizing that she was right I was inspired to do it myself so I photographed the display and did this painting from the photo.

I was selling a clown mask and clown shoes, that had been part of a performance art / burlesque act I had done, plus a small brass padlock. These three items were lying on a sheet of poster board on which I wrote "Stuff For Sale" with a black marker.

This trio of items struck me as a poignant allegory of what I believe is the essential absurdity of the artist's life and the romantic leap of faith which characterizes it as a career choice. It's lack of financial viability was starkly illustrated by the very fact of me having this yard sale. The clown suit represents the showmanship required in self promotion and it was also the way I felt standing there. The lock and key symbolizes the unlikely means by which the door to fulfillment and beauty can be unlocked.

This man bought the clown suit from me for $10

You can see more of my work on my website: www.corcoranart.net

Exoskeleton

Exoskeleton 2005

Acrylic on Canvas

60 x 68"

Exoskeleton is a self portrait with many shades. The image came to me during a period when I was fixated on sunglasses. Trying many different styles collected from from flea markets and thrift stores. One day I began adding a second pair, then a third and so on. My initial reaction was guttural, it made me laugh. Then it grew into a lingering fascination with the sublime strangeness of the image.

Why sunglasses? Aside from their primary function, to protect the eyes, they fulfill a desire in me to hide or be anonymous, ironically enough since one impetus for creating art is the desire to make the personal public, to be seen and recognized. The multiple sunglasses could represent the multiple ways that I perceive myself and the multiple ways that I assume others perceive me.

Sunglasses also function to limit outgoing and incoming communication. Of course the eyes are a major outlet of information from the face but great amounts of data are transmitted from the whole face and through extremely subtle movements.

Exoskeleton is an image of armor, blocking the outgoing signals of the inner self. The more of the face that is covered the less facial communication is transmitted and the less mammalian and more insect or crustacien-like the face becomes. At times it is desirable to appear less human and more bug-like. For instance on the subway if you are not in the mood for eye contact with strangers.

On one level, Exoskeleton illustrates shades gone obsessively awry, becoming pathological, made malignant. On another level Exoskeleton illustrates the normal uses of a fashion accessory, playfully multiplied into an odd, humorous mask.

Click here to read about Free To A Good Home, a conceptual project which involved giving this painting away.

Man's Best Friend

Man’s Best Friend 2004

Acrylic on Canvas

60” x 68”

As a kid, while exploring the neighborhood with friends, the temptation to tease dogs in cars and behind fences was irresistible. To witness at very close range such absolute animal ferocity while remaining out of danger imparted a deep satisfaction. The same rush of adrenaline, no doubt explains the persistence of dog fighting and boxing as spectator sports.

I think dogs ability to go to this place, in addition to their softer attributes is one of the things that endears them to us.

As a self portrait I was inspired to do it as a way of expressing some of my frustrations with life with humor and in a way words might be unable to do. It ts also a spoof on the typical portrait with a dog showing a very calm, happy situation.

I thought it would be funny and interesting to juxtapose a man and a dog expressing the same emotions and to show our similarities in facial structure. Perhaps only primates are more similar to us than dogs in their ability to emote through facial expression.

You can see more of my work at www.corcoranart.net