Wayne White “ Beauty is Embarrassing”

Originality is the key element in art. History has taught us that the world is in a constant change and that art is a living proves of this. The biggest artist’s, the most remembered ones have been able to brake social and esthetic parameters of their times and manage to create epic pieces of work that left not only a legacy behind but a new chapter in art history. Wayne White is still writing his history and trying to leave a legacy in the world of art but he as managed to become extremely popular because of his many talents which includes, animator, illustrator, director, puppeteer, painter, sculptor, cartoonist, and set designer. This variety of abilities led him to have a name in today’s art world and he is admired and respected but the art community of the world. Throughout his work White expresses himself emotionally and leads to many biographical themes but also manages at the same time to express irony and comedy in many of his pieces. The movie “ Beauty is Embarrassing” takes us through White’s journey not only in art but on life showing us the depth and meaning behind his work. The very first thing that plays an important roll on White’s work was his first job has a puppeteer (“Punk and Juicy”). This introduced him into the art world and although he already knew how to draw from an early age, by becoming a puppeteer he understood that art could be used to entertain people. This led to an inner change in him and marked his future journey in life. Being a puppeteer was only a glimpse into the art world and White wanted much more so he decided to mayor in art in college. This eventually led him to meet his closest friends and more importantly is co-workers on one the most important jobs in his life. The Pe Wees puppet show was a TV show created by White that was extremely popular on the 80s but more importantly it allowed him to show his personality through his work which ultimately will be a major aspect of all the rest of his works. “Humor is the most thing we have as human beings, is a sacred quality” this quote is the perfect way to describe White’s life works. The fact that he calls Marcel Duchamp a big French fag or that he doesn’t care about social parameters “ Money, fuck you”, are only a examples of his behavior which is a mirror of his work. He doesn’t treat his works like relics or worries about applying fancy techniques like impasto or sfumato in his work, for him art is a way of humor, of expressing himself and more importantly art has no rules. But behind this irony and humor there is a much deeper meaning to his art. For him art is the purest expression of beauty. And such powerful power comes with insecurities many times. “ You feel insecure, humble” this shows how powerful is for him art is and the meaning that has on his life. And although many times his works are strictly representational such as the writings on the paintings or the subject matter is completely textual, on his eyes the beauty on art is the meaning that each persons has for each piece of art. Just like humor, art is completely subjective and each piece he creates represents a different view on each person. That again is the beauty of his art, the fact that he manages to create a beauty beyond physicality and instead an emotional connection with each viewer. Wayne White manages to create originality in a world where it was lost. He breaks with parameters and doesn’t follow any rules and manages to create something not only appealing to the eye but with a great humor and deep meaning. White’s works are only a back door into his history and emotions but disguised with black humor and irony. But once we get passed this first layer that he puts,there is a much greater meaning to his life work based on a true connection with is viewers. “Beauty is embarrassing “ is in fact the embarrassment that White feels on exposing his emotions through his work and how naked he feels through his art.