ePostcard #75
Kid Dragon

Inspiration for the Kid Dragon came from a series of paintings artist Sam Flores created for a recent solo exhibition at Subliminal Projects Gallery here in Los Angeles. The show was summarized best by art writer and curator Lainya Magaña:

In his show Ego, Addiction, and Other Bedtime Stories, Sam Flores tackles what is perhaps one of the most pervasive themes in human existence: the struggle between light and dark. Through color and contrast, Flores addresses those parts of our selves that seek to hide behind the protective mask of acceptance while our inner demons claw at us from the inside. "There is a constant war being waged in the fight for balance," says Flores,"to determine which side of us, good or bad, will win out in any given moment." Yet despite the eternal conflict, Flores never hesitates to remind us of the potential for beauty to shine through - even in our darkest hours.

The themes of the exhibition are well reflected in the vinyl Kid Dragon, commissioned by Upper Playground in continued celebration of their 10th anniversary and produced by TheLOYALsubjects.

Kid Dragon Test Shot

Shooting the figure, I looked to Flores' Asian influences and the dark undertones of the character. The last neon light of a rainy Chinatown became the setting for Kid Dragon and his search for peace. As the test exposure shows above, the tone of the location changed dramatically as the night passed. The otherworldly color faded into muted tones, and the scene constantly evolved as timers switched off sections of light. Ultimately, I felt that the most powerful image came from seeing the character seemingly pounced upon in the dark. The blue glow becomes the last vestige of a manufactured world meant to entice.

Happy holidays and best wishes,
Brian

 

 

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