Istaymute

Technique: Mixed

Istaymute is Sébastien Larochelle's "Pop Trash Art" project. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, the artist saw his youth lulled by imagery and objects from popular culture such as audio cassettes, vinyl records, popular music, video clips and cult films. It is from these emblematic figures that the inspiration for this new series was drawn.

To contrast with a clean and perfect vision of Pop Art, the artist depicts these images rather as if they had passed through a long period of time, abandoned to damage, oxidation, deterioration and even wild graffiti. Wear and tear and transformation caused by the passage of time are themes that have always fascinated Sébastien Larochelle.

The name chosen for this series, like a tag for a graffiti artist, is Istaymute and has several reasons for being. On the one hand, it serves to distinguish the artist's two styles. On the other hand, it is inspired by the record company Mute Records which represents Depeche Mode, a cult group of the 80s and 90s, and of which the artist is a big fan. Finally, since it is the work that speaks for itself, the painter remains silent.