The Story behind My Sinorgy Series
"The main hang up in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can’t face up to the fact of other people being naked or smoking pot, or whatever they want to do, then we’re never going to get anywhere. People have got to become aware that it’s none of their business and that being nude is not obscene. Being ourselves is what’s important. If everyone practiced being themselves instead of pretending to be what they aren’t, there would be peace." ~ John Lennon
When I got back into painting eight years ago, I played around with different techniques and subject matter. One of the themes I explored was met with great resistance – the subject of sensuality and erotica. Some people quickly made rash judgements about why an artist would create these types of works. It even led to some minor controversy when I was still in the middle of my academic career. The idea of a professional, in a management position, creating this type of art was met with pushback. With all the other pressures of the job, I decided to forego exploring this theme any further, not wanting an added stressor in my life.
Life is funny how things sometimes come full circle. Fast forward to the fall of 2023. I contacted The Super Wonder Gallery, the gallery that now represents me. Speaking to the owner and curator, he asked if I would be open to being part of the upcoming winter “Super Naughty” show, an exhibition – no pun intended – of sensual and erotic art. My immediate and resounding response was “F*ck yes!” Having wanted to get back to exploring sensual art, I now had an impetus for the creation of a new artwork series.
The Evolution of Sinorgy
My Sinorgy series, pronounced synergy is a word play on the concept. The term, thought up by one of my sisters (thank you T), is the interaction between rock music, sensuality and a bit of whimsy. Inspired by rock songs and rock lyrics, this new series takes a look at the edgier world of art, through iconic music and raw expressionistic erotic paintings. Rock music, as well as other genres, by their essence are filled with sexual innuendos and themes. From the Sex Pistols to Pussy Riot, groups have a no holds barred attitude when naming their bands. If the band names do not grab your attention, then some of the song titles and lyrics surely will. “Closer” by the Nine Inch Nails, may have one of the most famous lyrics of all – google it if you do not know the song. And is there any better title for a song, then the beautiful composition, “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye.
As a rock and roll portrait artist, there is always a certain edginess to my work. When I create, my goal is to embody the energy, the rawness, the spirit of the rock genre. Nothing symbolizes rock better than the famous catch phrase “Sex, Drugs and Rock N’ Roll”. While the history of the phrase goes well back, it was first popularized by Ian Drury and the Blockheads in their 1977 song of the same name. For me, my Sinorgy series is the perfect way to connect my audience to their inner “Wildhood” as they explore the creative fusion between sensual art and music.
The Beauty of the Human Body
I do believe that there needs to be boundaries and ethics, but artwork depicting the beauty of the human form, desires that most people have, and normal and healthy acts should not be met with such harsh criticism. In many ways nudity in art serves as a mirror that forces us to examine the way the media and society has contributed to body shaming and self-consciousness. With all these competing factors, creating provocative art is a challenge. Despite these challenges I am not going to shy away from expressing my creativity. Some of my works may push the boundaries, but art at its essence is meant to elicit a response that connects, provokes, and imprints on the viewer.
Even if this style of art is not to your liking, I hope you can appreciate why it should not be automatically seen or labelled as taboo. Much the way some people like horror movies, others find them offensive. We all have different tastes when in art. From “romance novels” to sensual forms of dance, we need to be open minded before passing judgement. As for those who tried to find fault with my work and sabotage it, thank you, as you only fueled my drive to create.
The Verdict is In
Not to be lost in all of this was the response to my Sinorgy series. Other artists loved it. From an audience standpoint, people were very receptive to the art, and I received incredible feedback. And as an added bonus, a number of pieces sold. That speaks volumes! For those daring enough who want to see what the series is about – give in to your curiosity and discover the Sinorgy series and the story behind each piece.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Is this the type of art you would own? If not, can you at least appreciate the beauty behind it? In my next blog, I will be discussing the history of nudity/sensuality/erotica in art and the censorship artists have faced over the
I look forward to sharing more of my art journey with you, with a focus on painting and rock and roll through Artist Confidential. If you have topics, you would like me to blog about, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
Thanks for reading. Stay creative! Rock your day with everything that you do and be open to experiencing new ideas with an open mindset. It may just lead to a new learning or a beautiful experience.
Cheers,
Al
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