Menu
The New Contemporary Art Magazine

Gil Batle Carves Pictures of His Life in Prison on Eggs

America, supposedly the land of freedom and democracy, has become incarceration nation. Almost one out of every hundred Americans is now in prison, the largest percentage of any developed country in the world. Artist Gil Batle was born in the Philippines, but he spent over 20 years of his life in the prisons of California. One would think that prison is punishment enough, but as Batle discovered, inmates also face violence, humiliation, and racial segregation. His saving grace was his ability to draw.

America, supposedly the land of freedom and democracy, has become incarceration nation. Almost one out of every hundred Americans is now in prison, the largest percentage of any developed country in the world. Artist Gil Batle was born in the Philippines, but he spent over 20 years of his life in the prisons of California. One would think that prison is punishment enough, but as Batle discovered, inmates also face violence, humiliation, and racial segregation. His saving grace was his ability to draw. While in prison, he managed to cope and acclimate to the environment by practicing tattoo art on his fellow prisoners. Now a former detainee, he makes art professionally, carving impressive ornate illustrations of his experiences onto ostrich eggs. While his creations are beautiful, many depict the ugliness of human nature. His carvings recount the violent men he knew, the terrifying events he witnessed, as well as the friendships born out of horrible conditions. Gil Batle’s “Hatched in Prison” will be on view at the Ricco/Maresca gallery in New York from November 5th, 2015 to January 9th, 2016.

Meta
Share
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
Related Articles
Sculpting small-scale worlds is all in a day’s work for Korean artist Myung Keun Koh. The Pratt Institute graduate’s oeuvre consists of photographic laminates delicately pieced together in three-dimensional forms - boxes that sometimes convey little buildings, cityscapes and classical nudes that glow with luminescent light from within. Koh prints his images on transparent film and then laminates those images, melting them together to form his sculptures. Viewed from different angles, the printed images on these boxes shimmer fluidly, the result of careful abstract arrangement. With the medium of photography, he captures a single moment — but when the photos are layered into boxes, the moment becomes alive again.
Philadelphia based artist Drew Leshko (featured here on our blog) creates multi-layered paper and wood sculptures that beckon viewers to connect with a bit of nostalgia, while keeping one foot planted in the now. Leshko got his start as a studio assistant and fabricator for another sculptor just after finishing his schooling at West Chester University in his native Pennsylvania. Being strongly influenced by documentary photographers such as Walker Evans and Hilla Becher, Leshko creates sculptural commentaries that echo those filmmakers’ abilities to capture moments in time.
Hebru Brantley (featured here) is well known for his pop-infused paintings and sculptures of child-like heroes inspired by Japanese anime and graffiti. Growing up in Chicago in the midst of gang culture, Brantley has expressed that "when all else failed, I could turn to art", turning his reality into a fantasy world. He is constantly looking to create imagery that evokes emotion and tells stories, particularly of youth. Having traveled all over the world to exhibit his art, he is now making his Pittsburgh debut with "I Wish I Knew How It Felt to Be Free".
Mushrooms are an important part of San Francisco based artist Michael Campbell's sculptures, vibrantly colored mixed media works that sprout these cryptic growths. In a recent short film about his work, Campbell shares that since childhood, his art has demonstrated an affinity for the divine nature of things. As he grew older, his curiosity developed into an obsession about the imminent death of all creatures, something that Campbell feels the mushroom perfectly embodies.

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List