Artist Statement
Memento:
Dejected Glory of Rock N' Roll
Andrew Dykes captures the impact of raw beauty through melancholy and provocation in his upcoming series, Memento. As an overture to Rock N' Roll, Memento embraces musical luminaries plagued by self-destruction and highlights their resilience to an inevitable pitfall. These prominent portraits reveal distinct traits embedded deep within a persona and engage in the opulence of tragic glamour. Dykes immortalizes these flawed idols by emphasizing their exuberant mannerisms, troubled identity, and vast range of talent.
Tumble down the rabbit hole and hear these legends transcend death: find genius through their talent, beauty through their pain, and permanence through their art.
Solo Exhibition: Oct 10-15, 2019
One Art Space Gallery
Dahlia
With Van Gogh, he had the sunflower.
With Monet, he had the lily pad.
For me, I have the Dahlia.
An inherent feminine quality is always given when you look at a floral: you get lost in the brushstrokes, the color, the movement, how the petals unfurl outwards – you get lost in its mysterious nature, and you may begin to see something else entirely.
When I paint a flower, I paint as I would a portrait. I start with a contrived skeleton and build the layers on top: as if the flower has a soul. I want you to notice every varying aspect: the complexity, the symmetry, the contrast, everything in a sense that makes you drawn in and captivated. I want you to not only look not at its abstract form, but to see its true essence of form and beauty.
