Enter the world of Matt Leines: flabby dancing creatures, bowtie-wearing cats, peeping toms, and figures riding on the backs of tigers. These are just a couple of the crafty characters from Matt's current solo show, Hyperbolic, which opened last Thursday at Beginnings gallery in Greenpoint.
Every detail in Matt's work––from the electrifying, hard candy colors to each line––is painstakingly lain on the canvas. As for the mysterious and playful comic-based characters, they have a futuristic feel to them, yet also manage to evoke childhood memories. Like the painting Minnisink Men, in which Native American warriors majestically pose with a parrot companion that plays standard bearer. The work takes you back to the days of playing Cowboys and Indians and eating Pop Rocks until your stomach hurts––only the best kind of nostalgia. I caught up with Matt below.
Simon Chung: I know wrestling has always been an influence of yours. How has this theme carried through in your latest work for Hyperbolic?
Matt Leines: Not too overtly for this show. But I've been planning a full-on giant wrestling painting, which I'll probably get started on now, since all of this work is wrapped up.
SC: What are you currently obsessed with?
ML: Well, I've been obsessing over this show for some time trying to make it as good as I can, and hopefully I've come close to that mark. Other than that, really just things to distract my mind. Things like the Joe Rogan podcast––especially when he has the weird fringe guests on. Workaholics, but I'm finally caught up on those. And as mentioned before, the world of professional wrestling never gets old to me.
SC: If this show had a theme song, what would it be?
ML: That's always hard. I guess anything by Roky Erickson, King Tuff, and a lot of classics that they play on the Sirius XM Classic College Radio station. A steady diet of Van Morrison never hurt no one, neither.
SC: Did you always want to become an artist?
ML: With out a doubt. Maybe some other ideas would creep in for a short while, but those would fade and being an artist would return to the top of the list.
SC: What was your favorite toy growing up? If you were given the opportunity to design a toy, what would it be?
ML: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were definitely the coolest toys when I was growing up. The attention to detail––especially in the ridiculous playsets and vehicles, the counterparts between the goodies and the baddies, and even the fact that they found a way to market it to all the sisters with the compatible She-Ra line––all played a part in it being close to perfect. Looking back on it as an adult, the simplicity of the articulation and the color choices make them all still really visually appealing. I'd love to make toys based on my characters that were essentially bootlegs of the He-Man figures.
SC: I was lucky enough to see your work for Hyperbolic in progress a few times. What's the best part of your work routine?
ML: Being able to break the routine. If I wake up one day and I'm just not feeling into what I've been working on, I can start something new, go back to bed for a little bit, or try some other alternative. This racket can be surprisingly exhausting and being able to change the schedule definitely helps out with all the downsides of a pretty universally upsided career choice.
Through May 5th, 2013
BEGINNINGS
110 Meserole Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Every detail in Matt's work––from the electrifying, hard candy colors to each line––is painstakingly lain on the canvas. As for the mysterious and playful comic-based characters, they have a futuristic feel to them, yet also manage to evoke childhood memories. Like the painting Minnisink Men, in which Native American warriors majestically pose with a parrot companion that plays standard bearer. The work takes you back to the days of playing Cowboys and Indians and eating Pop Rocks until your stomach hurts––only the best kind of nostalgia. I caught up with Matt below.
Simon Chung: I know wrestling has always been an influence of yours. How has this theme carried through in your latest work for Hyperbolic?
Matt Leines: Not too overtly for this show. But I've been planning a full-on giant wrestling painting, which I'll probably get started on now, since all of this work is wrapped up.
SC: What are you currently obsessed with?
ML: Well, I've been obsessing over this show for some time trying to make it as good as I can, and hopefully I've come close to that mark. Other than that, really just things to distract my mind. Things like the Joe Rogan podcast––especially when he has the weird fringe guests on. Workaholics, but I'm finally caught up on those. And as mentioned before, the world of professional wrestling never gets old to me.
SC: If this show had a theme song, what would it be?
ML: That's always hard. I guess anything by Roky Erickson, King Tuff, and a lot of classics that they play on the Sirius XM Classic College Radio station. A steady diet of Van Morrison never hurt no one, neither.
SC: Did you always want to become an artist?
ML: With out a doubt. Maybe some other ideas would creep in for a short while, but those would fade and being an artist would return to the top of the list.
SC: What was your favorite toy growing up? If you were given the opportunity to design a toy, what would it be?
ML: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were definitely the coolest toys when I was growing up. The attention to detail––especially in the ridiculous playsets and vehicles, the counterparts between the goodies and the baddies, and even the fact that they found a way to market it to all the sisters with the compatible She-Ra line––all played a part in it being close to perfect. Looking back on it as an adult, the simplicity of the articulation and the color choices make them all still really visually appealing. I'd love to make toys based on my characters that were essentially bootlegs of the He-Man figures.
SC: I was lucky enough to see your work for Hyperbolic in progress a few times. What's the best part of your work routine?
ML: Being able to break the routine. If I wake up one day and I'm just not feeling into what I've been working on, I can start something new, go back to bed for a little bit, or try some other alternative. This racket can be surprisingly exhausting and being able to change the schedule definitely helps out with all the downsides of a pretty universally upsided career choice.
Through May 5th, 2013
BEGINNINGS
110 Meserole Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11238