The Art of Intricacy

If you've ever found yourself cruising through an art gallery, you've probably seen people staring at paintings and sculptures for minutes, maybe even hours. Analysing them. Scanning them for meaning; for hidden secrets.

Truth is, many artists don't know what the exact underlying 'message' of their artwork is until they've finished the last brushstroke. Some artists don't even have anything to say about what they've created– and that's absolutely fine! Making things up last minute because someone's said, 'Oh, what's the meaning of this then?' is a total no-no. Equally, don't nod and claim that what x person has said is the actual theme/message of the artwork. Own your creativity.

When observing individuals standing and gazing at pink shapes on black paintings, understand that they will form their own opinions regarding another person's artwork, and subsequently share their insights with others (unless they possess unique insights, possibly obtained through direct interactions with the artist or extensive research). However, we can always rely on our own judgment – after all, if art is anything, it's subjective.

Maybe you're like me, and you're not bothered about pinpointing meaning from the second you put colour to a white surface– or maybe you're refining the meaning and messages and epic themes of your imagery subconsciously (which is more than possible), in which case, that's fine. But remember there's no pressure in knowing or not knowing the truth behind those finer details. It's your artwork. You decide. The same can said about writing etc.

Which brings me to drawing intricate images. What better way to bring people closer to the artwork than to have their eyes follow the lines and shapes in a non-linear fashion, each new area rewarding their observation and curiosity. Forget analysing– instead, let your mind go on an imaginary expedition.

I've recently been returning to a style of such imagery where the complexities are crammed together. This time, in the form of a babel-like city, made up of lots of other smaller cities, some with strong themes, others a little more vague. I've done lots of these before, but never added any colour– mainly because I honestly can't be bothered to colour every single section in, but also because I think such a mass of colour would sink all of those finer details. Hence the select use of colour here and there, drawing the eye to certain details. The snapshots of the drawing I've included in this blog post are from my latest artwork, 'The Unfinished City.'

So, it pays to look more closely and stop worrying about those themes and messages. I certainly didn't want anyone to declare their epic findings from this artwork. It's somewhat intuitive. I plan (make maps and so on) before I add any major detail. This one was particularly difficult because of the mad railway system that runs throughout the image. That was challenging! I guess you could say, if you wanted to be really analytical, that there's a theme of class and pollution. The former is because of how I've organised the places in the city (the royal estate at the very top; the industrial city at the bottom) and the latter because of how the water system gradually changes to murky browns and oil-slick black by the time it reaches the sea. But know that these 'themes' or 'hidden messages' are only obtained from some serious close inspection. And you can always disagree– I'm not going to hunt you down and force you to recite my original intentions!

The art of seeing also means the art of staring (or exploring– because that's really what this is all about!) the city. From the swamps to the Tokyo-inspired night city, there are multiple narratives to follow. Let your eyes roam free and stop worrying about the underlying meaning!

I'm going to work on more of these – or more of this style at least – so watch this space ;)

You can find a video tour of this piece on my Instagram @Henri_ken_ART

Thanks for reading!