Menu
The New Contemporary Art Magazine

The Unsettling Illustrations, Murals of Nemo’s

Nemo's crafts illustrations and murals with vague, sometimes grotesque characters often shown in reflection or anguish. When the viewer looks past the unsettling circumstances of these drawings and paintings, they may find something relatable in the emotions evoked in each piece. Just like the name of the artist, the works serve multiple functions.

Nemo’s crafts illustrations and murals with vague, sometimes grotesque characters often shown in reflection or anguish. When the viewer looks past the unsettling circumstances of these drawings and paintings, they may find something relatable in the emotions evoked in each piece. Just like the name of the artist, the works serve multiple functions.

“When I began drawing on walls in the streets I needed to find a name for myself … ,” the artist says. “I decided that name would be Nemo. Nemo like the captain from (“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”), who fought battles against the war, the injustices in the world and the silences of the sea. Nemo like the main character from one of Winsor McKay’s first comic strips, in which he narrates the nightmares this boy has every night about amazing adventures in a fantastic kingdom called Slumberland. Last but not least Nemo like the latin word for ‘no one.’ I have always liked the idea of calling myself with a name that means ‘no one,’ that makes my work even more mysterious. I added “’s”, the possessive case, because it refers to my art, so the translation goes from ‘no one’ to ‘no one’s” and this completes the paradox of this way to identify myself.”

See more work by the artist below.

Meta
Share
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
Related Articles
French artist Nicolas Barrome’s wild, cartoonish scenes play with texture and expectation. He does this both on the canvas and on walls, with each piece tethered by Barrome’s rendering of cutesy characters and objects alongside darker elements. In a statement, the artist’s swirling influences are given some context.
Trippy magicians and warriors find themselves in an unnamed land with black skies in Martin Ontiveros' current exhibition, "Strange and Unlovely" at Pony Club Gallery. Based in Portland, the artist and self-described metal-head (HF Collected Edition 3) has created a world of bizarre denizens throughout his painting career. Featuring new ink illustrations, mainly monochromatic, the show indulges in their fantastic strangeness. Check out more photos from the show after the jump!
Bernie Wrightson, a comic book industry vet and celebrated illustrator, died on March 18. The artist was vastly influential for generations of illustrators, cited for his elaborate line work and absorbing detail. Wrightson was legend in the horror genre, in particular, mixing both the beautiful and the unsettling in his pen and brush work. Shown are images from his revered Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein series, adapting the classic Mary Shelley novel.
Hong Kong-born, Australia-based artist Gerald Leung illustrates under the moniker “Brack Metal.” The artist’s intricate style seems to take notes from both manga and American comics, surrealism, tattoo art, and other pop culture touchstones. His character studies, in particular, appear as mash-ups without restriction.

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List