December 2011

This December, I contributed a couple paintings in two other group shows.

Arrested Motion curated a show "East West Connection", hosted by the Hong Kong based Above Second Gallery.

EVERYBODY LOVES PANDA

16" X 20"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

Copro Gallery celebrated the holiday season with their "Black Christmas" group show.

THE GIFT

6" X 6"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

Ink on Paper

8" x 10"

2011

Created for the Sweet Streets Art Exhibtion Co-Curated by Spank!, hosted by WWA Gallery. Sweet Streets is an artist management group that fosters talents from Japan and the United States. This relationship inspired me to create a piece that blended my own American/Lowbrow aesthetics with Japanese/Manga styling. The drawings title "I Think I'm Turning Japanese" was inspired by the hit single from The Vapors.

Kamen Rider & Super Sentai Anniversary Show

On 5th, November 2011 the Los Angeles based Q-Pop Shop, in conjunction with the JACCC and Anime Jungle are presenting a group show featuring art inspired by Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. For this show, I chose to create a piece inspired by Kamen Rider.

Kamen Triker

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

8" x 6"

2011

"Kamen Triker" was inspired by many different factors, some from the show, and some personal. What separates Kamen Rider from the rest of the or Japanese Superhero shows (also known as Tokusato - Americans might be more familiar with the show "Power Rangers") is the fact that the hero's signature mode of transportation is a motorcycle. I chose to parody this with a tricycle because the way I saw it, the show was designed to entertain children (ie. people too young to actually drive motorcycles). Another reason why I choose to illustrate a tricycle is because I personally do not know how to drive a motorcycle, and the way I see it, this painting puts into question my own masculinity, adulthood, and more.

"I Am Legion" Ashley Wood Custom

This November, I was invited to contribute to an Ashley Wood Custom show, "I am Legion". Artists were provided a "Bothead" to customize. The show was hosted by First Amendement Gallery, and runs from November 4th through December 4th, 2011.

I am Bearbot

Acrylic and Ink on Vinyl "Bothead"

Approx. 10" Tall

2011

 

When I looked at the Bathed, it felt like a collision of Steam Punk Robots with World War II sensiblities. And so, I did my best to capture these aesthetics. Specifically with the helmet, which was inspire the "jaw" of the Spitfire Mark II Tiger Shark.

I ended up spending a lot of my time working on the part of the sculpture that would probably be least featured: the bottom/neck. The neck featured elements that resembled a jumble of wires and springs, so I did my best to paint it as such.

Painting Update (November 2011)

My procrastinating has done it again. I'm totally backed up on paintings. So let's not waste any time and get on with the catching up.
Since I last posted anything created a painting for a Giant Robot group show "Robots". As the name of the show implies, the theme of the show was "Robots".

"The Bear Machine"

Acrylic + Ink

6" x 6"

2011

"The Bear Machine" was inspired by the band Kraftwerk's "Man Machine".

At the same time I created a couple paintings for an art fair in London with Moniker Projects, however, the work didn't get there in time. However, I was assured that these piece would find themselves in some upcoming events.

"The Hood and the Horns"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

12" x 12"

2011

"Face Paint (Revisited)"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011

Meanwhile, Stateside, I created a couple paintings that were featured in the "Beyond Eden Art Fair" with Copro Gallery.

"Drum Head"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011

"Pants"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011

Jumping Brain Custom

Toy Art Gallery are proud to present Emilio Garcia's "Brain Evolution" the first Custom Jumping Brain Show. Featuring awesome Artists from different fields like Street Art, Toy Art, Pop Surrealism, Illustration, Kaiju, Contemporary Art among others, coming from around the world.

The show runs from September 16th through October 10th, 2011.

www.toyartgallery.com

TAR PIT
Mixed Media
2011

Gossip Well Told

From September 24th through October 29th, 2011, my painting "Skeleton Study / Gold Bone" will be on display at the Warrington Museum & Art Gallery's "Gossip Well Told" a show in London. Curated by Frankie Shea & Tina Ziegler.  

www.monikerprojects.com

Skeleton Study / Gold Bone 

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

14" x 11"

2011

You Fucking Die

"You Fucking Die" was created for "Dig for Fire", a group show featuring art inspired by The Pixies, hosted by C.A.V.E. Gallery. The painting was inspired by a bit dialogue at the end of the track "Oh My Golly" from the album "Surfer Rosa".

I choose to create this painting because this dialogue is one of the first things I remember hearing by The Pixies. So whenever I think of them, I think of this bit of banter (a long with plenty of their amazing songs)

You Fucking Die

Acrylic + Ink

14" x 11"

2011

Luke Chueh Circa 1990

This September, I was invited to contribute a painting for "Stop It", a bully awareness show hosted by Munky King and curated by Super Cooper.


Here's a description from the shows curator:


Hello! My name is Super Cooper Berella. I am curating my own art show at Munky King Gallery for my 12th birthday called “Stop It!” The art show is about school bullying and cyberbullying. It is to raise awareness to stop bullying! I love your artwork and think it would be perfect in my show. The date of the show is September 10th, 2011 from 6pm-10pm. Would you like to be in my show? Your piece can be any medium or material.

Some of the proceeds of the show will go towards GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality) and CHIME Institute (the school me and my sister go to). Some examples of bullying are: 13 year-old Ryan commits suicide because of getting bullied by some girls that were pretending that they liked him. Another example is Cyberbullying. It is when someone hurts someone’s feelings online.
Can you do a piece for my show please? If you cannot do a piece, I would love if you can attend. Artwork will be displayed at Munky King Gallery in Los Angeles.Here’s their address:7308 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046
Thank you for your help and awareness.
Your art friend, Super Cooper




For the show, I chose to create a self portrait of myself around the time when I was 15-17 years sold. At the time I experienced a lot of bullying myself and I felt that my manner of dress was a reflection of this bullying, and of my feelings toward the world I lived in. 
The reason why I chose to paint a rabbit (as opposed to a bear, which I usually use to represent myself) is because I most likely thought rabbits were cooler than bears at that age.

Luke Chueh Circa 1990

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

14" x 11"

2011

Crowded Teeth

My "Tooth" design for the the My "Tooth" design for the the "CROWDED TEETH: A Super Sweet Group Show" show, curated by Crowded Teeth, Sweet Streets, and hosted by Munky King. Opening August 20th, 2011

Blood & Gold Acrylic and Ink on Wood Approx 10" x 13" 2011 Crowded Teeth: A Super Sweet Group Show Opening party: August 20th, 7pm - 10pm. Exhibition runs: August 20 - September 7, 2011. Munky King 7308 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 www.munkyking.com Munky King & SWEET STREETS invite you to a super sweet group show inspired by the fanciful world of Crowded Teeth! So sweet, they make your teeth hurt, the Crowded Teeth characters are everything from pirate ghosts, toaster ovens, to animal friends who love adventure! Crowded Teeth transforms Munky King gallery into a new level of cavity induced awesome, August 20 - September 7, 2011. An opening party (hosted by Bubble Punch!) will be held on August 20th, 7pm - 10pm, feat. music by DJ Colby.1 and food by Lomo Arigato. *First 25 guests get a FREE gift bag with goodies from Crowded Teeth, Loungefly, Dolly's Cotton Candy, and SWEET STREETS! Artwork Preview: http://on.fb.me/nZT6Cn Participating artists: Crowded Teeth*, Angry Woebots, Anne Imai, Brent Nolasco, Chikuwaemil, Eimi, Gary Ham, Julie West, Kayo Tamaishi, Karen Chau, Luke Chueh, Mainframe, Martin Hsu, Microu x Eimi, MISO, Mizna Wada, Motorbot, NICO, Sheryo, Shojono Tomo, Suiko, Sket One, TOUMA, Triclops, Yuki Takahashi, yucachin' See you there! Crowded Teeth www.crowdedteeth.co​m

It's been a while...

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything on my blog, so it's time for me to catch up.

THE PRISONER (PART 2)

24" x 36"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

Note: Created for "Zero to Sixty", Corey Helford Gallery's Five Year Anniversary Show

  

BADLY DRAWN

14" x 11"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

2011

Note: Created for Moniker Project's "Gossip Well Told" Show

DRAWN BADLY

14" x 11"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

2011

Note: Created for Moniker Project's "Gossip Well Told" Show

 

 

RIDIN' RYDEN

16" x 12"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

Note: Created for Copro Gallery's "Genesis to Revelation" Show.
I can't tell you why I thought this would be an appropriate painting for a show entitled "Genesis to Revelation", but I just wanted to take the opportunity to create a tribute painting to one of my favorite artists, Mark Ryden. The painting features many Ryden-ism's such as a bunny, a bee, a girl with bloody tears, Abraham Lincoln, and a steak.

LUKE CHUEH VS. RAYOLA

Approx. 8" Tall

Acrylic and Ink on Wood

2011

Note: Created for "Shades of Ray", a custom "Rayola" show, curated by Color Ink Book, and Hosted by WWA Gallery.

Alice

Last month I was invited to create a painting for a group show of art inspired by "American McGee's 'Alice'", hosted by Gallery 1988. The following painting, 'Alice' is an ode to the Alice in Wonderland mythology. Through the painting I tried to illustrate the idea that behind the horror/gothic atmosphere of McGee's Alice, is still the Alice we know and grew up with. I referenced the Disney version of Alice for the painting.

Alice
14" x 11"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

Kittens & Ice Cream - Cat Power

One Saturday, June 4th 2011, I'll be contributing a new painting to the "Kittens & Ice Cream" art show, hosted by JapanLA.

Here's the info concerning the show:

JapanLA is turning 5 Years Old! To celebrate, we are having a "Kittens & Ice Cream" Art Show and Awesome Party! Over 40 of our artist & designer friends will be making cat-related art, clothing, jewelry, and more!
Part of the proceeds from the art sales will go to "Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue & Support." These are the folks who have been going into dangerous areas of Japan, due to the high radiation caused by the tsunami and ...earthquakes, sometimes sneaking in, to rescue pets that were left behind. They are providing them with food, shelter, and love until their owners can come back for them.
Party is Hosted by: Bubble Punch!

Participating Artists:
64 Colors, Bei Badgirl, Buff Monster, Cathy Clark, Chikuwaemil, Crowded Teeth, Dan Goodsell, Dan May, Diana Shin, Dollybeast, Edwin Ushiro, Eliot Schwartz, Eimi, Eric Joyner, Gary Baseman, Irene Yuen, Jenny Rae, Joel Raul, Justin Wallis, Kayo Tamaishi, Kozyndan, Lactose Intoler-Art, Luke Chueh, Mari Inukai, Martin Hsu, Melissa Contreras, Michael Banks, Misha, Miss Kika, Naoshi, Norma Christmas, Patrice Roldan,
Plasticgod, Tim Diet, Yume Ninja

And there's a whole lot more than this.
For more information, check out the JapanLA website.
Or their event page on Facebook.

CAT POWER
9" x 12"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

"Cat Power" is inspired by cat allergies. I just recently heard that cat allergies don't necessarily come from the dander, but rather, a combination of the cat's mucous (from cleaning itself) AND its hair. This is why the "beam of destruction" coming from the cat is shooting forth from its mouth, and my bear has fluid coming from its eyes and nose.

Hanumanomi Custom Omi

Created for “FACES OF INDONESIA” AN OMI DIY CUSTOM CONTEST”, I've titled the piece HANUMANOMI (DOCILE) / HANUMANOMI (ENRAGED). Like a coin, the two Omi's are presented back to back. The design is inspired by images of HANUMAN, the Hindu Monkey God. Though I have no idea what Hanuman’s roll is as a deity, I love rich visual language of the Hindu religion. It’s very inspiring.
The name itself is simply the mash up of the names, "Hanuman" and "Omi".
Presented by : Plastic Culture, Munky King, and Damn! I Love Indonesia.

HANUMANOMI (DOCILE) / HANUMANOMI (ENRAGED)
Acrylic on Plastic
Approx. 2.25" x 3"
2011

Photo Blog

So, on top of the Igneus Gero blog, I've erected a Tumblr Photo Blog.
It'll just feature pics I take with my camera phone. Mostly of shit that I'm working on, or whatever catches my eye. It'll essentially be my way of venting my need to voyeurize myself. So please check it out!

http://lukechueh.tumblr.com

Just so you know, I have not intention of neglecting good ol' "Igneus G" here.
I plan on using this to preview all my finished works before I throw them on my facebook page.

Sharky Fin Soup

Friday, May 20th, 2011 will celebrate the opening reception for "GETTING BIG!!!" a custom "Sharky" show, curated by Keith Poon of ToyQube, and hosted by ToyTokyo at the Showroom / TT Underground. Keith Poon, designer of the "Sharky" (as featured in the art toy documentary "Vinyl Frontier") has assembled an impressive cast of artists to customize the 3ft version of his signature toy.
Featured artists include: Ron English, Tristan Eaton, KaNo, Keith Poon, Frank Kozik, Luke Chueh, Jason Freeny, and more.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 20th, 2011 (7pm - 11pm)
May 20th, 2011 through May 29th, 2011
ToyTokyo / TT Underground Gallery
91 Second Avenue (Next to 5th street) New York, NY 10003
www.toyqube.com
www.theshowroomnyc.com

Luke Chueh & Keith Poon

SHARKY FIN SOUP
Acrylic on Fiberglass, Plastic, and Cast Resin
Approx 36" x 30" x 24"
2011

Root Down Part 2 (Drawing)

ROOT DOWN PART 2 (DRAWING)
Acrylic and Ink on Paper
50cm x 40cm
2011

This May, I was invited to contribute a painting for the "Enchanted Forest" show, curated by Yasha Young & Giovanni Cervi, and hosted by Strychnin Gallery Germany. The show was created to promote 2011's recognition by the United Nation’s as being the International Year of Forests". From what I understand, "Year of Forests" is an event whose motives are for the recognition of our forest lands, one of our truly essential resources, in the hopes of halting deforestation around the world. This will will be my first time for me to show anything in Germany.

To compliment the shows tree/forest theme, I chose to revisit, my paitning, "Root Down".

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 13th, 2011
STRYCHNIN GALLERY GERMANY
Boxhagenerstr. 36.
10245 Berlin
Germany
www.strychnin.com

Color Ink Book

A while ago, I was invited by the Brothers Washburn to contribute to their "DIY Art Periodical" "Color Ink Book". About a year later, I finally got around to creating the 9 drawings I'm contributing to the upcoming issue, along with this cover image. I hope they like it.

Street Fighter II Hyakuretsu Kyaku (Lightening Kick) Print

Today, a print of my "Street Fighter II - Hyakuretsu Kyaku (Lightening Kick)" painting is being sold for a limited time on Jondo.com
Here's a link to the print page.
And here's the information concerning the print from the Jondo webiste:

Product Description

Part of the Creative Mind [Hopeful Child] collection, with all proceeds going to Japanese relief. Learn more about the effort here. All prints from this collection are PhotoGiclées & Giclées printed on archival-quality fine art paper. There is a 2" white border around the print, making them suitable for framing and display. A 12" x 16" print, for example, has an effective paper size of 16" x 20". All orders for this special relief effort will be printed and shipped beginning 04.25.2011. International orders will be open from 04.18.2011 - 04.25.2011.

Post It Note Show at Atticus Gallery Bacelona

I just shipped out a couple of pieces for a show that's opening May, 2011, I'll be contributing a couple pieces to a "Giant Robot Tribute" Post-It Note show hosted by Atticus Gallery Barcelona. I wish I knew more about the gallery, but all I know is it's in Spain, and it's works on Post-It notes, a theme that has been explored at Giant Robot's gallery in Los Angeles. Here's the pieces I created for the show.

A Second Round of Production Omi's

Here's a sneak peak at the "turnarounds" I just finished of a second production Omi for Munky King. Inspired by my painting "The Monkey King", the design is based on the makeup design for the Monkey King as featured in classic Chinese opera.



As you can see, I have two different designs. The gold and red version is intended do be a San Diego ComicCon / Munky King exclusive. The "original" version was designed to be a part of the second series of Omi's. I'd like this "original" version to include a ring crown, similar to the crown featured in the painting I created.


NOTE: I'd appreciate it if we avoided reposting this image on any other art/toy blogs and sites. I just wanted to share this with my fans who actually read this blog. Also, the design has NOT been approved yet, but hopefully it'll work out. Thanks for understanding!

Earthquake's, Tsunami's, Fundraiser's, Oh My!

March 19th, 2011, I'll be contributing some stuff to two Japan Earthquake/Tsunami fundraisers.

TERROR FROM THE SEA
14" x 11"
Acrylic and Ink on Paper
2011

"Terror from the Sea" was created for "#prayforjapan". Hosted by Japan LA, and curated by Sweet Streets, all sales are donated to Red Cross. This painting was created specifically for this fundraiser and was inspired by the devastation caused by the tsunami.

LEAK
11" x 14"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

This second painting, "Water Works" is hosted by Giant Robot, and all sales are donated to UNICEF. This painting was originally inspired by and created for a fundraiser for the creation of water pumps that provided drinking water in 3rd world countries. However, due to events in Japan, it was decided to donate towards disaster relief from the earthquake and tsunami.

I also donated one of my last "Possessed" figures from my personal collection for the "Water Works" fundraiser. For more information, please contact Giant Robot

Inlé

INLÉ
11" x 14"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

This evening, "Inlé", a group show curated by Greg Simkins, hosted by Gallery 1988, and featuring paintings inspired by the story "Watership Down", specifically, Inlé, the black rabbit that functions as a metaphor for death.
For my contribution, I chose to focus around "Hazel", Watership's protagonist. In the story, Hazel gets shot in the leg, a wound that gravely effects our hero. For my painting I chose to feature the wounded Hazel standing in crutches as Inlé, the black rabbit inspects the damage.

"They Threw the Book at Me"

A little while ago, I created this painting as a gift to my attorney. It's admittedly a small painting, but hey, it's a gift. Better than nothing, right? Regardless, I have a feeling that I'll be recreating a bigger version of this for my "I Am Your Play Thing" solo show, September 2012, at Rotofugi in Chicago.

THEY THREW THE BOOK AT ME
Acrylic + Ink
8" x 10"
2011

Omi (Series 1) Artist Series

Thursday, March 3rd 2011, Munky King will be releasing the Omi (series 1) Artist Series. Contributing artists include Buff Monster, Luke Chueh, Ferg, Nathan Jurevicius, Frank Kozik, Munky King, Dave Pressler, Greg Simkins, and Yoskay Yamamoto. The above image is the design we chose to use for the series. For the release party, Series 1 artists were asked to customize a wall of Omi's (9 Omi's per wall). Though I'm not sure how many of the artists actually did one, this is my contribution for the show.

ONE OF THESE OMI'S IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS
Acrylic & Ink on Omi
13" x 14"
2011

INLE in the HOUSE... kinda

This March, I'll be contributing a painting to "INLE", a group show curated by Greg "Craola" Simkins. The idea behind the show is "over 100 artists interpret the understated hero of Richard Adam's Watership Down".
Here's my sketch for the painting I'm creating for the show:

INLE AND ME
11" x 14"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

"INLE AND ME" features the stories protagonist "Hazel". In Watership Down, Hazel gets shot in the leg, which becomes a wound that never truly heals and plays an essential role in the rest of the story. So, in my painting, Hazel has his leg a wrapped up in a sling with a hint of blood seeping through the bandages. Meanwhile, "Inle", the mythical black rabbit of Watership Down, is represented as an actual black rabbit in the painting. Since Hazel's wound is such an essential narrative element, I chose to have Inle inspect, or rather, flirt with Hazel's wound.
Hosted by Gallery 1988, the show will open March 11th, 2011. (7pm-10pm)
Gallery 1988 - 7020 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038

Contemptorary Art Show Pics

On Saturday, February 12th, 2011, Corey Helford Gallery hosted the opening reception of my latest solo show, "Contemptorary Art". Inspired by my love/hate relationship with Contemporary Art, the show featured 16 new paintings, a 1000% sculpture of Possessed, and an "interactive" portion of the show where the audience is invited to manipulate a template of the bear I created for the show.

MOST PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIM CHUEH

1000% POSSESSED

Here's the prototype of my 1000% Possessed. Produced by Munky King and sculpted by Jedidia, the finished 1000% Possessed will be made of Steel Reinforced Fiberglass and limited to 15 pieces.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION TEMPLATE BEAR

Here's the walls Corey Helford set up for the Audience Participation portion of the show, featuring the "Bear Template" I created.

LABEL SERIES

Seperated into 4 different series of paintings, this first series is the Label Series. The Label series is a series inspired by the typographic stylings of Barbara Kruger. There are three paintings in the series: "Lowbrow", "Pop Surreal", and "Contemptorary".
The complete name of each of these paintings is:
Label Series : Contemptorary (and Still the Loser)
Label Series : Lowbrow (and Still the Loser)
Label Series : Pop Surreal (and Still the Loser)
The reason why the paintings say "(and Still the Loser)" is because the way most people see it, it doesn't matter what you call the work in this genre, the Contemporary Art world will never take it seriously.

COLORFIELD SERIES

The Colorfield series is inspired by the Color Theory exemplified by the works of Mark Rothko and other Colorfield artists. There are two paintings in this series. Those paintings are "Colorfield Series
: Red" and "Colorfield Series : Blue"
The idea behind these paintings is the exploration and study of color on the human psyche. The Colorfield series features a small bear sitting in a field of color and textures. The "Red" version obviously being a field of red, and the "Blue" painting, a field of blue.
What I hope to extract from these paintings is two totally differ interpretations of what the audience interprets from the colors, though the images are essentially identical. From the blue, feelings of depression of forlorn. And from the red, the sensation of brooding, or quite anger.
I guess the best idioms I could think of that exemplify what I'm trying to do are "Seeing Red" and "Feeling Blue".

COMMUNICATION SERIES

The Communication series features five paints. Based around the image of my bears head, it is as though I've run the bear head through a series of image filters, exploring the history of visual communication through my familiar character. The five genres of which I've explored are:

Original: The original version of the bear head is based on how I classically rendered my characters.

Halftone: With the development of mass communication, the halftone screen became an essential development in print communication. Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is famous for employing such a filter in his work.

Renaissance: This is how I imagine an artist from that period would have rendered the head of my bear... Sort of.

Cubism/Modernism: This is how my bear would have been interpreted through cubist/modernist eyes

Pixel: With the advent of computer technology, Photoshop etc. The pixel is the latest incarnation in communication technology. Contemporary artist Chuck Close is one of the more famous artist who've employed the pixel into his very portraits.

TEMPLATE SERIES

The idea behind the Template series is basically explores the idea of "it's not the glass that tells the story, but rather what's in the glass itself". I'm creating 6 paintings based on a template image of the shape of my bear
character. Each painting, despite being confined to the shape of my bear will explore widely different styles and emotions.

SHOW TIME

During the show, my cousins Richard, his sister Cathy, Cathy's husband Travis, and their twins stopped by.

Guests were invited to customize the bear template on tables in the back of the gallery:

Their finished templates were put on display on walls in the middle of the gallery.

Joe Ledbetter checking out the Audience Participation Templates

Munky King's Lap Ngo joined the party

Artist and colleague David Flores stopped by the show.

Brandi Milne and Hubby also made an appeance.

Munky King main-man and 1000% Possessed producer Patrick Lam in the house.

As the night went on, I found myself in love with this particular template bear by "Mateo".

But to be honest, I truly love all of them.

After both sides of the Template Bear wall were filled, we started filling up the walls under the loft.

The cherry on top of was the appearance of this lovely yet mysterious tambourine wielding luchadoress. I have no idea who she is, but when you come to my show rocking a luchador mask and a tambourine... 'nuff said.

I would like to thank all my friends, family, and colleagues who showed up. Your support is truly appreciated. Thanks for making this a great night for me.