The Monumental Mystification of Not-So-Vertical Vim

by Kelly Meyer

Acrylic on Canvas

Although superficially lighthearted, my work falls somewhere between saccharine and vulgar. Wielding everything from vibrators to strap on dildos, my band of sock creatures bring with them a sense of play and whisper promises of fun and laughter. Their cuddly cuteness is balanced by the cynicism and directness of the piece, mimicking my own perverse sense of humor. It is this delicate balance that makes them both approachable and alluring. The viewer cannot help but be drain in by the apparent fun and lightheartedness of the piece, only to discover there is much more beneath the surface. The complexities of modern day relationships and the struggles between men and women have been the focus of my work. Through my work, I have explored not only the wide spectrum of human emotion but also the variety of situations in which we often find ourselves; situations that are often simultaneously humorous and sad. Devotion, betrayal, sacrifice, loneliness and the exploration of traditional sex roles have been some of the prevailing themes. Of late, I have become more immersed in the world I have created for my sock creatures; I explore the possibilities of what might happen when they are left to their own devices. My paintings have started to become more about the trails of each individual sock creature and less and less a mask for the world in which we live. Surprisingly, I have found it hard to tell the difference from painting to painting for it seems that when the lights go out and they wake up their world is much like our own.