Steven Shearer, a Canadian artist, blends influences from art history, including Symbolism and German Romanticism, in his portrayal of contemporary white masculinity through music subcultures. His recent works showcase enlarged photographic images, diverging from traditional painting techniques. Shearer captures the anonymity of online imagery, creating meaning from their collective presence. His latest exhibition, "The Golden Recline," features themes of sleep, continuing his exploration of identity and relational presence. Shearer's artistic evolution from painting to photographic archives highlights a significant dialogue between contemporary art and historical influences.
I started collecting images as reference material for paintings and at some point this activity became meaningful in itself. I looked for ways to give the archives some presentable forms.
For me it's more about all the pictures that exist out there, especially on the internet... There is something poetic about that.
These enormously enlarged images convey a painterly feel, and Shearer is especially attentive to the ways in which they relate to art history and themes of religious figuration.
His metalheads and punks form an ongoing exploration of contemporary forms of white masculinity.
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