David Evan Withers
I recontextualize imagery in order to relay a fresh sense of
emotion or sincerity, often by combining poetic language with
nostalgic cartoons in my paintings. I find that the language of
memes uses a similar formula with comedic effect. My interest
in humor comes from its potential underlying seriousness,
which can disrupt convention, activate repressed emotions and
impulses, and address fears of alienation, displacement, and
related anxieties. Cartoons are often abstracted representations
of humanity, an ambiguous representation of actions and
emotions, a placeholder for a person. One is to constantly make
sense of the nonsense. Humor has the ability to make you laugh
with discomfort or even settle into an uneasy sadness. Moments
or feelings that seemed to have meaning, we are safe to digest
as meaningless. That is what constitutes the comedic process—
maneuvering throughout fear with a gentle sarcasm.