Noah Dalbow: capstone

2021 Spring.Colorado State University Art and Art History Department capstone project.Capstone contains the artist's statement, a list of works, and images of works.The artist's statement: My work explores the role that technology plays in society by creating a unsettling futuristic world that reveres technology to the point of disconnection from the external world. The pieces that I've created I view as almost sort of icons from the futuristic world with the figures representing various entities in these people's pantheon. The figures integration into the environment by power cables and electrodes represents their transcendence or integration with a sort of cosmic consciousness or god. This also ties into the horror of the loss of individuality and autonomy to a power greater than oneself as well as the simple body horror of having your body invaded. The advancement of technology has led to great things for society increasing life spans and preventing disease. We can now chat with people halfway across the globe and travel there in a few days. We are no longer constrained to meeting people through physical proximity, unfortunately, people are also no less depressed and isolated than before, if not more so. To some extent it almost seems like we have replaced tangible relationships with hollow imitations. Technology has also allowed the spread of some of the most terrible and virulent propaganda possible, replacing knowledge with illusion. I use more antiquated printmaking techniques to make most of my work as the tactile nature just gives better feedback and the resulting images has more detail than digital work is capable of. The compositional and technical complexity which I attempt is influenced by 17th artists like Doré and Goya. While I enjoy making and viewing less representational art I truly enjoy the challenge of trying to make things look 'believable.' The content of my work is influenced directly by the works of more modern artists such as Giger and Bekinski whose horrifying and psychological work I find infinitely fascinating. Outside of the visual arts I'm influenced by my love of fantasy, sci fi, and mythology and writers like Neil Gaiman, Lovecraft, and Mike Mignola