Student exhibits artwork at Black Orchid
Images courtesy of Aaron Unser
The work of SCAD third-year furniture design major, Aaron Unser, was displayed at the Black Orchid Tattoo Studio & Gallery in his exhibit named “The Sixth Circle,” for the whole month of October.
Unser explained that what ties his work together is that they are all in the macabre style. He also explained that he draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno,” as well as the work of Gustave Doré.
His goal, he explained, was to convey a melancholy setting “without being too vulgar or having too much unnecessary stuff.” He also stated that Albrecht Dürer is an inspiration for him because Dürers’ work is, “dark without being in your face.”
When asked what led Unser to exhibit his work in a tattoo gallery, he explained that tattoo illustration was in his plans at some point of his life.
“Originally, I wanted to do tattoo illustration… over time I kind of realized as much as some of my art fits into that theme, I don’t know if I would want to tattoo,” Unser explained.
Although he has designed tattoos for several people as well a few of his own.
Unser stated that his process for deciding which pieces to include in the exhibit was simple: “I wanted to take my best pieces that were black and white,” and that the pieces he chose were the closest he has to a series. All of the pieces related to Dante’s Sixth Circle, hence the title.
Unser pointed out that he tends to do most of his pieces in black in white.”I think it’s become comfortable for me,” he said.
His materials for this particular exhibit included copic multi-liner pens, gold leaf on wood panels, stalk paper, watercolor paper, cold and hot press paper and other multimedia.
Every artist has a different process and approaches their artwork in their own way; some plan thoroughly and others are more spontaneous. Unser shared that his process for this exhibit was strategic.
“I used to wing it, and I realized it was a lot more stressful trying to go straight in,” he explained.
“I started with three of four concept sketches. I went from that to a more rough sketch,” Unser added later.
When asked if at any point in the process he became disgruntled and threw away or started completely from scratch, Unser laughed, “Probably about 50% of the time.”
Although he did share that he does not throw anything away anymore, unless it is unsalvageable, adding that a friend of his snapped him out of it.
“If I don’t like something, I’ll keep it; I’ll stash in the back of my sketchbook. Half of the time I go back later even if I’ve completed that piece. I’ll see it and be able to work it into a new piece of art.”
Unser explained that most of the time his artwork derives from the things that inspire him and that becomes the underlying meaning. He also added that he likes having darker pieces, because so many people draw meaning out of them.
“I don’t tell them if they’re right or if they’re wrong. I just kind of let ’em go,” he said. “I feel like as an artist, that is the goal you set out for, to have people think when they look at it, even if it’s disgust.”
Unser has had his work up at a couple of SCAD shows, but this is the first solo show he has done.
“It’s the weird middle ground where you have to do it for yourself but also know how to promote yourself,” he said, elaborating on displaying his work at exhibitions.
Unser is currently working on a collaborative art book that will contain a series of tattoo style flash sheets that various artists have submitted. Unser hopes to hold a reception, for that collaborative piece in the near future.
For more information on the artist visit Unsers’ website.
Written by Asli Shebe.
Asli Shebe is a senior writing major from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She began working for District in 2014 as a staff writer, then copy editor, A&E editor, Chief Assignment editor and finally, Editor-in-Chief in 2017. Asli currently holds the record for obtaining the most job titles during her time at District. When she’s not writing for District you can find her biking around the Historic District of Savannah at odd hours of the day.
