Luke Chueh's Mecha Sad Bear

other possible quotes:

"kill me now"

"don't look at me!"

"I'm so embarrassed"

"Hi! I'm the mecha one trick pony"

ok, the last one was really mean. I take it back. I got carried away.

 

My thoughts exactly !

 

...but seriously, I wonder if the artist wanted it to look out of place. I mean, a lot of us are teasing on the design, but you never know what the artist was trying to accomplish. I think that's why I want to own this one...

...for the low, low price of "pay me".

OK, OK, I'll stop.

 

I actually like Chueh's paintings to an extent, but I have to agree that he is (more than a little bit) a one-trick pony. However, the same can be said for Ledbetter, Legno, Buff Monster, et. al. Coming up with one stylistic tagline does not a great artist make. The Possessed figure managed to capture his particular style well, but if this is his idea of "branching out" he's got some things to learn (in my admittedly less-than-talented opinion).

 

Aren't most of the so-called "lowbrow" artists and those generally associated with that non-movement one-trick ponies? I like some of them ... Alex Pardee is great and I have some Nathan Cordero paintings, but I think of most of them as illustrators more than fine artists. Definitely the case with Chueh and Ledbetter and KAWS. This is not the "dis" it may sound like, but ... perspective. Some (e.g. Camille Rose Garcia) have transcended their origins but most seem to stay stuck on an identity carousel that makes for some strong images, but not a lot of depth.

 

I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain

I'd unravel any riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain

With the thoughts you'd be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain

Oh, I would tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I'd sit and think some more

I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain

 

Completely agree with this, as well as what KJB said. I think that Simkins actually displays quite a bit of technical talent, but his content is so boring. Ledbetter is very clean, and has style but lacks artistic talent (IMO) - might as well illustrate for Nick Toons or some crap. I really thought KAWS had vision/talent, but apparently I was duped - I still enjoy his early work, but I'm no longer waiting for him to show that he's our generations Keith Haring.
There's a few great talents in the "low brow" spectrum, but they're not as plentiful as 2006 would lead you to believe. Gallery 1988 is a fucking joke - somehow i got on their list...I think when I emailed about Martin's Pac-Man painting from the first "I Am 8-bit" show - if you haven't seen that painting try to find a pic, it's awesome!

edit:
Here's Martin's painting. I REALLY wish I owned this:

 

^man, that martin piece is nice.... his stuff is so clean

speaking of lowbrow artists.... is jeff soto's walker coming out anytime soon? i have cash ready for flippers

 

I was looking for a lot more, at least in colorway if not in sclupt of this fig.
I mean Kozik's KJFG pieces have been great, and the Ledbetter figs have been sweet same with Horvath but this one is just simply not cutting it.

 

I'm gonna be the odd man out and say. I like it. I like the old 50's style robot vibe it has. I think Chueh had this in mind when he did this peice. The big mistake was it got marketed as "Kaiju". Even worse is it got lumped in with the KFGU series. I do wish it was a bit bigger than 6"inches.
I like big bots and I can not lie.

my apologies to SirMixAlot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41APzy5kqBU

 

I luv Martin's paintings! Anyone can tell me where to find his old paintings like he one above ??

Thanks!!

 

locked up tight in peoples collections

 

looks to me like Jermaine Rogers DERO was swallowed by a Robot!

 

I agree with Robert on the size thing. Anything around 8-12" would of done this piece more justice.

 

I heard on good authority that Soto's walker will be out this year. With a few different color ways to boot. I'm very hopeful.

 

I'm not sure if there's anything wrong, per se, with being a one trick pony, if it's a good trick and you have a lot to say with it. Did Mondrian paint too many grids, Pollack too many drip paintings, or Lichtestein too many ben-gay dots? Alot can be done with a limited vocabulary, although I think sometimes artists feel forced into a pigeonhole by their fans.

I agree with some of the other posts that it seems like it's in the wrong category, and that the Kaiju label isn't helping it.

 

I see what you mean...but "sad/pensive/suicidal bear"? yawnish...

still, even after all my teasing, I have to admit that I do like some of his work.

 

aw... awesome

 

who the fuck is mondrian??? ...never heard of it.



only joking - very good point!

call "one trick" unique style or concept sounds all different.