"In Pure Energy I wanted to explore the oral history and mythology of music subcultures. I focused on ‘shocking moments’, the kind of legendary events I would read about in Rolling Stone’s Top Ten lists as a kid. By the time I heard these stories, all context had been worn away and they had been elevated from real, lived experiences to mythic tales. These paintings are made from stories of famous and infamous concerts I wish I got to see first-hand.
The paintings disassemble crowd members into grids, exploring individual faces as studies of significant events, and celebrate rock concert crowds, emphasizing subcultures as agents of social change. Through visual representation and oral history, the portraits challenge stereotypes, ignite conversations, and highlight the transformative power of music and its nurturing impact on subcultures."
