Yeah, so this guy Mark Evans takes a knife and spends what must be a monotonous amount of time etching massive pieces of leather into rather impressive portraits of famous dudes, an ape, bulls and Winston Churchill (all shown below). But there’s no video evidence. Taking a picture of a guy holding a knife while standing next to what could just be a painting isn’t a very convincing argument. Sorry to be a cynic, but welcome to art in the 21st Century.
Plus, his website includes a rather douchey schpeel about Evans being some sort of descendant of cavemen; that he was raised by wolves in the Arctic and eventually–because you know, it’s cold there–he froze in the ice. Later, he was discovered by geologists, thawed out, and sent into the world only to develop a deep, primal urge to cut shit with a knife. Now he “makes art” and “doesn’t do pseudo intellectual.” I’m serious, people. This is his persona.
Now let me be clear: I’m sure Evans really does use a knife (well a series of them in various sizes, anyway) to make his meticulous leather-wall-carving art. And by the looks of it, he’s a pretty damn talented guy. I dig this stuff. What puts a damper on it is the whole notion that it can’t just be art. It has to be drowned by this extravagant and poorly concocted back-story that cliches and minimizes the work.
If you’re talented to the point where your craft is unique to you and maybe a handful of people in the world, why, sir, would you make yourself seem like a fool? Just be real. [Via]
