Welcome To Neo-Maché -Art.com The Experience
Neo-Maché -Art.com
OUR STORY
Neo-Mâché Art was created in the housing projects of Peoria, Illinois by
11-year-old Barrymore A. Moton, Aka as B-more. The year was 1972. With his father Mckinley Moton II and brother Jay E. Moton serving as catalysts for his creativity, he employs this method in paper craft which he has dubbed, Neo-Mâché Art or (the New Mâché). His father, a quasi-craftsman would create jewelry, sandals, winter hats out of found objects. He once saw him build a long counsel stereo out of discarded materials that they would salvage while “Junkin.” As primitive as his methods may sound, it was merely a testament of his transcending intellectual and creative power. After enduring a 4-year stint in the military, 2 years as a professional athlete in the Canadian Football League, coupled with 2 years of penury as a homeless Veteran, Barrymore was able to visualize this process into fruition which includes a mesh of allegorical imagery, color, texture and surface contrasts, while containing hyper-realistic representational elements. These components mirror mundane events that have taken place in the past, present and his perception of its impact on the future. Neo-Mâché Sculpting is a unique concept inspired by the 12-inch GI Joe action figures from the 60’s and 70’s. These are the toys with which he amused himself during play. It is the synthetization of a series of paper cones, cylinders and spheres that form the substructure and the foundation of Neo-Mache’ Art. These forms are cut and spliced in specific areas to form parts of the human structure which is not typical of the traditional paper mâché technique. Its foundation or substructure are bits of recycled, ARCHIVAL, paper derivatives and ordinary glue. He uses this time- extensive, laborious process to render the intricate and specific details of the human anatomy to make hyper- realistic works that describe scenes from wearying events. The great civil rights activist and entertainer Nina Simone once stated; “Every artist should create work that reflects the times.” For example, the assembly of the Utopia Arts/ Neo-Mache’ Arts logo Muhammad Ali’s “Get up Sucka” is constructed out of several byproducts of paper; However, on occasion, he may manipulate the surface and add other mediums in efforts to further obscure its origin. It is most arranged in dioramic tableaus depicting events that have had a profound impact on the human psyche’, the Black community and society. He attempts to take the viewer through a comprehensive visual experience seen through the eyes of the artist. B-more is exploring the way this fixation relates to people, athletes, the aesthetics of nature and how these worlds intersect. This is part of a larger conversation about race and privilege in America. His sculpture is a critique of the impact of civic events, gladiator sports, war, and the peripheral damage they cause to marginalized groups, particularly young, Black boys, girls, men, women and their families. These outlying events of conflict are depicted with highly- representational figures which also reflect his own experiences of society, sports and military engagement. B-more is interested in the socio-political expression of sculpture from the inception of Alkebulan, to present times. This propels him to consider who determines who is savage, who is civil, what is art, what is sport and what is war. B-more also experiments with assemblage to explore psychological states, deterioration, fragmentation, and the experiences of danger and intimidation. In short, a metaphorical splintering. Completely self-taught,” “I have often visualized creating figures out of paper. As a child I had GI Joe’s. Since I didn’t take care of them, my mother gave them away to a more appreciative child in the neighborhood. Suffering from my loss, I had to make something to play with so, Neo- Mâché Sculptures were created.” There are 7 great wonders of the world. Prepare to witness the 8th. Neo-Mâché Art will be an experience in paper that you will never forget. |