Taylor White

Photo by Jamie Robbins

Raleigh native Taylor White is a figurative artist brightening environments worldwide through their unique pop art paintings and murals.

What is figurative art?

“Figurative art” is a term used to describe art that focuses on real object sources and so is, by definition, representational. As in you can tell what it is. I would describe my work as “Abstract Figurative,” which is a fun contradiction in terms.

Abstracted Motion

augmented reality mural Raleigh, 2018

Much of your art shares a color scheme.

What attracts you to this palette?

The primary function of a mural is to capture attention and elicit excitement. As exemplified by the popularity of graffiti and street art, bright colors and high contrast are exciting and just nice to look at. I could describe myself as rather earthy and subdued, so it’s fun for me to explore loud colors and play with unexpected color combinations in my artwork.

Where did you begin your mural work?

My first murals were painted in Australia. I started off with small street pieces in Melbourne, and then was invited to collaborate with a few other artists on a laneway wall in Adelaide. I barely knew how to use a can, but I just went for it. Now, here we are.

What inspired your Durham Central Park mural?

I had some direction from a committee involved which provided the parameters for this mural.

My intention was to create a brightly colored pattern bridging all four panels with scenes from everyday park life embedded within. The bright colors and textures are also a nod to Durham’s eclectic culture and the beauty of a diverse, colorful community.

Your Laocoön and Algorithm references the Greek epic Aeneid and the Trojan Horse.

Of what significance is this story to your art?

The sculpture of Laocoön has been noted as “the prototypical icon of human agony” in Western Art, and unlike the suffering of man often depicted in religious art, this suffering leads to no redemption. The movement is contorted, and the statue is noted for its fluid and realistic depiction of this movement. I repurposed this depiction of Laocoön as a metaphor for the dark struggle brought on by addiction to social media, and furthermore, the global corporate business model which exploits that addiction.

What are the terms and conditions for our modernized world?

Good question. What are you giving up by offering so much of your personal information, time and energy to your devices? We may not often consider this, but I feel the topic is moving more into mainstream conversation. You think you’re getting something out of your social media use - and you are, usually in the form of a dopamine rush from continuous social feedback - but what is sacrificed? I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to meet my goals, and that I’m often not focused enough to fulfill them. How much of that is due to my energy having been traded to my device for a cheap hit?

What does a “right to privacy” mean?

Another good question. How do possibilities expand when creating in the digital world? Are there limits? If you hone in on any of the discussions surrounding data breaches in the last several years, you will find ample fodder for this conversation.

6X6_03

acrylic and spray paint on cradled wood panel

In what ways can art challenge us to rethink modern connections?

I think at its best, art elicits some kind of challenging emotion and, if one is willing, allows us to confront our triggers, traumas and preconceived notions. Like listening to what’s going on underneath your reaction.

So how do we escape the Matrix?

So to escape, we can unplug. Turn our phones off and work on centering ourselves. It will take a lot of work for many people who have connected their self-worth to their social media accounts, but focusing on realizing our power and own responsibility is a good start.

Go outside more. Take up hiking, camping, surfing, running. Something that takes you outside and away from electromagnetic radiation for a few hours. I could go on.

What does success mean to you?

I define success as having the freedom to spend your time the way you want to.

Taylor White art available here.