A bunch of animals! There are, of course, characteristics that differentiate we humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. One is that we can self-reflect, another is our cognitive ability to act rationally. Darwin believed that, although we are closely related to animals, we are only slightly more intelligent as a result of our lucky evolution. Perhaps we should spend more time considering our capacity for abstract thought and contemplating the stuff beyond what we can make sense of.
With a carnal instinct, LA-based artist Luke Chueh creates work that stimulates our most primal constructs. His paintings favor compositions that are simple and direct, and usually feature a solitary anthropomorphic figure stuck in a self-reflective stupor within a frozen monochromatic void. A first look at one of his images evokes the warm and fuzzy, the stuffed teddy bear you cuddled as a child. But then a glimmer of despair emanates from the inertia, revealing something troubling within the tableau.
Chueh’s work over the past decade has become widely popular and extensively imitated. His distinct style sets his work apart from the output by others of similar ilk. The prolific artist boasts a singular brand, having branched out as a forerunner in the collectible toy scene, with plans in the works to venture into the fields of merchandise, apparel and animation. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down with Luke and chew over the roots of his dark corner of the universe.
