Description
‘Observation’ by MadebyEnger
Artist: MadebyEnger
Title: ‘Observation’
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 8″ x 8″
Framing: Unframed
Year of Creation: 2021
About the Artwork:
Observe the object.
Artifact’s inner being,
Latches to our soul.
About the Artist:
(Artist Bio)
MadebyEnger, John Eng(er) Cheng, is a designer and artist currently living in Southern California with his wife, son, and lazy dog.
His work dives into humankind’s innate desire to collect, especially the things perceived to have value. Objects, at a base level, are only worth the materials they are composed of. But objects also have the potential to transcend to having a life of its own, untethered to its creator or original owner. Specific contexts and scenarios can allow such artifacts to carry characteristics of regality, holiness, evilness, love and a whole slew of other attributes. The intensity of such characteristics are how we ultimately determine the value of these artifacts.
Rare artifacts are sought after as if the mythical powers they hold can somehow be transferred by merely obtaining it. We see this behavior in epic narratives and in the games we play with the heroes seeking out legendary weaponry and objects: King Solomon’s ring, Jason and the quest for the golden fleece, and the Legend of Zelda’s Master Sword to name a few. We sometimes even apply it in our own lives — if i had the same brush as that artist, I could be great too!
MadebyEnger takes curiosity in such objects, not only in famous relics recorded throughout time, but also the small obscure artifacts that we as individuals place value upon. Through the use of acrylics and gouache, he explores these concepts with paintings — blurring the lines of fiction and history with a hint of nostalgia displaying fictional characters with the objects that they hold dear or believe to bestow them with power in a world that at times is seemingly shrouded in darkness.