I have been exploring ideas of existentialism, combined with the theory of the ‘every-man’. Specifically, I have been creating vacant landscapes with small, indiscriminate figures placed within. I am exploring existentialism on a modern level, taking ideas of isolation and alienation that emerged after WWII and interpreting them in relation to the apathy that stems from media satiation within my own generation.

This is done not through symbology, but through mood and ambience. The figures in my pieces are wandering through abandoned industrial-scapes, which represent technological advances and the abandonment of old ideas as new ones emerge. The overwhelming space and the large industrial scapes conspire to annihilate the figure, forcing them to struggle for their existence. Compounding thus, the figures’ world is limited to the space surrounding it. The audience can see much more, which alludes to a time and space foreign to the figure.

In regards to the ‘every-man,’ this is a concept brought up by Scott McCloud in his book, ‘Understanding Comics.’ Basically, this references the idea that the less specific a figure is in terms of individual and unique characteristics, the more universal the figure becomes. I have adapted this theory into my own work, by purposefully making the figures vague in appearance and presence. There are no indicators of a unique existence, therefore the figures can take on multiple roles and personas—they can adapt, to a certain extent, to the whims of the audience.