US-based artist Chris Regner likes to make a fool out of himself. His solo debut in Asia, Careers in the Arts, features a series of self-deprecating paintings that take a look at personal and universal experiences through his lens.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, he started drawing when he was a kid.
"I used to copy the art from my favorite comic books and pursued drawing all the way through college," he said. "I wanted to integrate color into my work so I tried many different types of drawing media but didn't find the right fit."
Airbrushes were just beginning to become a trend and he fell in love with their flat and graphic aesthetic. He discovered that using an airbrush was a lot like drawing with paint and has since been hooked on the medium.
His inspiration comes from the drawings of his favorite comic book artists, such as Patrick Spaziante and Todd McFarlene.
"In the particular is contained the universal" - a quote from James Joyce - has changed the way he thinks about creating art.
He was particularly shocked to see the attention to detail presented within a small comic panel. This emphasis on detail is also reflected in his artwork.
"In this exhibition, I focused on the life of an artist with its benefits and turmoil. So, my inspiration comes from within. It is usually a reflection of what is occupying my mind at any moment. I try not to edit or turn down ideas," Regner said.
In Soul Transfer, Regner's self-deprecation is evident. The artist painted his self portrait on a large canvas, while the grim reaper represents critics who deride his approach to painting.
That's because he refuses to follow the peripheral route of painting contemporary art. He may be able to paint in a traditional way - but that would not be his first choice.
Regner's work is a combination of technology and paint. He first creates an image digitally before painting.
Lately, he has taken to using a virtual reality program to "sculpt" objects. "I take many photos of the objects in VR with different lighting and compositions, arranging the images in Photoshop to create a collage that I paint from," he explained.
The balloon-like or bloated figures depicted in Married Artists are indeed the artist and his fiance.
Regner wanted to show the weak and fragile mentality of an artist. If you pay closer attention to the background in this painting, you could see traditional painting brush strokes scattered across - it is the artist's protest against his different approach to painting.
You might notice the vibrant color choices in Regner's artwork, which he finds is an interesting contrast to more serious or disturbing subject matter.
The use of primary colors such as blue, red and yellow acts as a self-referential gesture as they are like the building blocks of all other colors that he found most relevant to incorporate into his work that are documenting the artist making art.
"I want you to laugh and scream in equal measure if the paintings were made with darker shades. David Lynch is a tremendous inspiration, I want tones to be mixed, complicated and go between the two to cause whiplash for the viewer," he said.
He does not shy away from intensity.
Almost all of the paintings here tell a depressing story - except for Future Planning, which depicts the change of Regner's mental health after he started practicing meditation and having met his fiance. He had learnt the art of not being interrupted by real-life concerns.
Being a anti-proselytizer, Regner uses his personal experiences as a foundation to his paintings and to question and challenge the values and beliefs that do not go in line with his own morality.
He hopes the discomfort and complicated compositions evident in his art help search for individual epiphanies.
Career in the Arts will be on show at Woaw Gallery in Central until March 20.
