Featured image: M (Pylons #1), Mark Flake, 2019, oil on canvas, 40 x 72 in. / 101.6 x 182.88 cm.
Art, in its most evocative forms, serves as a mirror to society, reflecting its complexities, its cultural zeitgeist, and the myriad narratives that define an era.
Mark Flake is an artist known for vibrant oil paintings that blend modern themes with mythological elements, creating textured works rich in symbolism.
Mark Flake's artworks—richly layered with symbolism and thick with textural detail—provide a fecund ground for such reflections. Through "Lucky Charms," "Hydra," and "Shell (Pylons #2)," Flake offers a diverse and intricate tableau that spans themes from mythology to consumerism.
Lucky Charms, Mark Flake, 2023, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in. / 121.92 x 91.44 cm.
In "Lucky Charms," Flake juxtaposes the mundane with the mythic, creating a pastiche of modern consumer culture. The eponymous cereal box, a symbol of commercialized happiness, takes center stage, surrounded by other objects that seemingly spill out in a still life arrangement. There's a sense of the temporal here, as though Flake is capturing a moment of contemplation within a domestic space. The oil on canvas medium grants vibrant life to the colors, and the textured application of the paint adds depth, inviting the viewer to consider the layers—both literal and figurative—that compose our daily lives.
Hydra, Mark Flake, 2022, oil on canvas, 46 x 46 in. / 116.84 x 116.84 cm.
Transitioning from the domestic to the legendary, "Hydra" is a potent visualization of the mythological beast, rendered with a modern twist. The creature's serpentine forms are depicted in a state of dynamic tumult, as if caught mid-motion. Flake's choice of a monochromatic palette for the hydra against a cooler backdrop emphasizes the creature's ferocity and the chaos it represents. This painting, slightly more abstract than "Lucky Charms," challenges the viewer to find order in chaos, paralleling the Herculean task of confronting the hydra itself.
Shell (Pylons #2), Mark Flake, 2010, oil on canvas, 60 x 40 in. / 152.4 x 101.6 cm.
In "Shell (Pylons #2)," Flake seems to take a more contemplative, almost serene approach compared to the visceral "Hydra." The solitary Shell gas station sign, standing against the tumultuous sky, could be interpreted as a commentary on the isolation of corporate entities amidst the storms of societal change. The verticality of the pylon, reaching into the swirling clouds, might suggest a striving for transcendence or a beacon of constancy in a world of flux. The painting’s larger size allows for an immersive experience, with the detailed textures of the sky drawing the eye upward, reinforcing the painting's aspirational qualities.
Mark Flake's artistry defies simple categorization, weaving together themes that call to the curious mind. Each work—be it the reflective "Lucky Charms," the chaotic "Hydra," or the introspective "Shell (Pylons #2)"—serves as a distinct narrative chapter in a larger commentary on the human condition.
His use of oil paints underscores a commitment to traditional craftsmanship while exploring contemporary subjects, anchoring his work in a dialogue between the past and the present. Flake's canvases are more than mere visual treats; they are contemplative spaces where viewers are invited to unravel the tapestry of symbols and textures that make up our complex reality.
Learn more About Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art.
6 (Pylons #3), Mark Flake, 2019, oil on canvas, 40 x 60 in. / 101.6 x 152.4 cm.
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