Coming soon...

Sonic the hedgehog.  

An icon specific to my generation. He has become a strong character in my memory and will remain so for my lifetime. The reason being is that psychologically, I associate him strongly with my childhood, social times and hours upon hours of entertainment; my personal distraction from the regularity and mind crushing regime of school; my lady in the radiator.

In the wider context, video games are an addiction designed for the younger audience. 

A harmless looking industry, slowly merging its fantasy with reality like a frog in heating water. Having rode the wave, owning at least ten major consoles and a countless amount of games, I am a victim. I became sonic, I was inside that television/monitor.  Perhaps some will reconcile with a particular episode of the classic sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf.

'Better than life'. Watch the nicely pixelated episode here...

The episode conveys the very essence of a possible future. The comedy of it adds to the exaggerated fantasy of the idea but the tragic consequences shine a light on a structure that is building within the video game industry and fundamentally technology.

This is a drawing of my inner self.  

In retrospect, my time spent in front of the computer has been one of procrastination and one that has limited me from creating/working at a younger age. The drawing is in fact a costume plan that is yet to undergo construction... I thought I'd share it with you so that you can see how the idea evolves at the same time as me.

Im working with a fashion designer to construct the outfit and it is primarily for a photograph I am 'painting'.  This means the whole photograph will be set up including the background and will mimic a documentary style photograph.

The photograph I hope will add to a series of at least three based on the same topic but with different characters and address a wide audience of my generation that will relate as strongly to the characters as I do.

The camera as a creative tool provides a strong sense of realism visually. Although everything in scene of this project will be set up, the visual factor will bring the fantasy its aesthetic contrast for humour to play its part and simultaneously deliver a horrific truth to those still stuck in this fantastical pixelated world.

The photograph represents a moment frozen in time.  My time spent under the cold glow of the screen, clicking buttons to compensate for my blinking, was a time spent frozen and potentially active to freeze my creativity again...

In summary, I want to portray this culture specific to my generation, in an exaggerated form in order to really attract those relatable for ultimate comical effect that paradoxically delivers a horrific truth. 

The real art will be in achieving this balance successfully. Watch this space.