Mike Shinoda.
Monday, August 31st, 2009
Mike Shinoda’s Glorious Excess (DIES) opened at the Japanese American National Museum yesterday. This is the second solo exhibition by him at JANM, an extension of last year’s Glorious Excess (BORN). Janice and I went to the members-only conversation session held today on behalf of Audrey Magazine.
Mike Shinoda was interviewed by Roger Gastman. It was a real intimate setting, yet MS tried his best lay down the basics in terms of his background and where he comes and how he got to where he is in his art.
After some interviewing, there was an extensive Q&A session with the audience, and a viewing of the short film that accompanied the exhibit.
Glorious Excess (DIES) explores the public’s obsession with the celebrity lifestyle from the viewpoint of a unnamed skeleton man who appears throughout the exhibit in different forms…
He was born in last year’s exhibit and meets his death at this year’s. This casket is MS’s first non-canvas installation, i believe? I might be incorrect.
Tabloids, celebrities, excess, music quotes and musicians depicted. The importance of such things to this artist is significant because it comes from his view as a celebrated musician who also holds the ability to express his opinions through other media. What a rare talent!
Lennon depicted, part of the “4 Seasons”, where he also paints Andy Warhol, James Dean, and Kurt Cobain. All celebrities who died ‘tragic’ deaths.
MS walked the audience through the exhibit, which I thought was very nice. That girl clutching the skate deck looks ecstatic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this assignment. It’s not everyday the artist dedicates himself to help the public understand his work. It is when people like Mike Shinoda produces something that expresses an idea and shares it to inspire more creative thinking is when one is called a true artist(imho). That second part is really important, I’ve met many artists who just leave their work as is, in a ‘take it or leave it’ sort of way. Sometimes that could be cool, but it’s even cooler when an artist tries to make his art open for interpretation in an inclusive way. 
