James Mlaker, digital artist

Artist Statement / BIO
 

I am a self-taught digital artist, whose works are rooted in the union of digital photography and computer graphics. My works are constructed using multiple layers and masks; where the artistic construction process is also a reflection of individual and collective human psyches which are mired in infinitesimal layers and masks, with some co-existing in symbiotic and harmonious relationships, while others co-exist in direct conflict with one another. My works are rooted in an exploration of the concept of Johari's Window, which is the relationship of the hidden expressed known and unknown selves with the perceived known and unknown selves, expressed through social, political, spiritual, environmental, philosophical and/or psychological themes. I find that my work tends to flow out of a strange combination of my life experiences, my educational background (BA Psychology and MS Professional Counseling), my intuitive nature, along with my ADHD pervasive symptom of inattentiveness (which isn't really being inattentive, but rather being over-attentive to one's surroundings). I find there is a true artistic asset to my "over-attentiveness", in that everything I perceive serves to pique my interest and subsequently results capturing subtle, sometimes unusual, and highly fascinating everyday images which are often overlooked by the average person. I am influenced by the works of Dali, Kahlo, Pollock, Escher, Picasso and Olbinski.
 
I have recently been invited to and accepted juried membership in Artspace 2000, been invited to participate in the Biennale  Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea 2005 in Florence, Italy (http://www.florencebiennale.org/), exhibited 10 works in the New York Art Festival (http://www.nyartfestival.com/  in Las Vegas, June 23rd), exhibited 15 works in the June, 2005 group show at the DLG Gallery (Chicago, IL), exhibited 30 works in the North Beach Oasis Annual Art Festival (Racine, WI), and exhibited 15 works as an invited guest artist in Gallery 380 as part of the Waukesha Art Crawl (Waukesha, WI). I was the featured new artist in the Digital Abstract website (http://www.digitalabstract.com) for the month of April, 2005 and received a third place award ("Lost in Song" - Spirit and Creative Force) in the 2005 Artists Helping Artists & Creative Line Magazine Call to Arts International Juried Art Competition (Cal Poly Downtown Center, Pomona, CA, June 25, 2005). I am currently exhibiting six works in Gallery Now (http://www.gallerynow.com/mlaker), eight works in Sven's Café (Milwaukee, WI) and three works in the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (Los Angeles, CA). Upcoming exhibitions include the Infusion Gallery (Los Angeles, CA) and the AX Space Gallery (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).