Doze Green – Siddhartha
States, U. (2019). Doze Green. Retrieved from https://www.widewalls.ch/artist/doze-green/
DOZE GREEN
Doze Green is one of the masters of the early New York graffiti scene. Transitioning his work later from the walls to the canvas, his densely layered pieces entice the viewer to delve deeply and lastingly into his pieces. His works blend figurative abstraction, fluid line work and organic cubism, with constantly flowing narratives. He challenges ideals around everything from political and social issues to his own beliefs around time and the universe. His works reference influences of the psychedelic art and surrealism.
Doze works over a multitude of medium. From fine art, street, photography, documentary and as a writer. He is an artist who has lived his art and his art as a result, is a direct collection of his experiences and reactions to the world.
JABBAR MUHAMMAD
"what motivates you to work someone asked me once; and I questioned myself: Do I truly work to express myself, or for fame and appreciation, or to prove how talented I am......" ... but it is the urge for self expression; as a sensitive being I feel and experience inner and outer world impressions that I share through my work. hoping to leave lasting whispers that others will seek to question and perhaps find their own inner answers in"
This statement really resinates with me. Looking at the artists who's practice I admire, they seem to have a very defined common theme amongst all of them.
Eve 3.6 by Jabbar Muhammad
Post, T. (2019). Exploring identity through art. [online] The Jakarta Post. Available at: Art created for the purpose of it. Art
https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/07/26/exploring-identity-through-art.html designed because its an artist intrinsic duty
[Accessed 25 Feb. 2019]. to do so. To ask the questions no one else wants to and to plow fearlessly forwards. Driven by your own desire to decrypt and understand this world more. For without this, what is the purpose of art?
I've spent the last 12 years of my artistic practice being very controlled with my mark making. Especially coming from the tattoo world. Everything is about sharp lines and defined imagery. Some times pushing through this comfort box is challenging for me. Muhammad's control in his pieces with fluidity is stunning and something that I would like to push myself harder to explore.
Looking over the artists that I find myself drawn to over and over (Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Jason Dill, even historical figures such as Amedeo Modigliani) I am drawn to characters that their art is a true extension of themselves. For Banksy its his political voice, Jabbar Muhammad his questions around his own identity and spirituality... their work demands response. People feel connected to the emotions evoked and thus to the artists.
They all, in their own way, document their lives and culture around them through their works. Social media also allows them to do this on a far more intimate level. Giving windows into otherwise unseen places, its a powerful tool, one that exceptional artists understand and use to its fullest potential as cathatic releases further jolting their exploration of self and society.
Quenstions to ponder What are you making art for? What is it giving to the world?