"I started this line shortly after a divorce and fall from grace... I had just started to discover myself and what I truly believed outside the bounds of my fanatic Christian background. Hence, much animosity towards organized religion and the church can be picked up from these paintings. I was dealing with my own issues, expelling my heart... I therefore have not brought myself to let any of these pieces go. They are almost too personal... and I believe this is a line that I will continue to add too for the rest of my life. I have numerous more paintings in my mind waiting to be birthed for the world to see which communicate more of my deep seeded sentiment towards the church, politics, and conservative society. But I also feel I am speaking for my generation through this work, that there is a collective mindset in my generation that feels so cheated by these religious, social and political issues our parents ignored. My only hope is to have an impact, and in a way I have. It has been shown in Cheyenne and in Laramie, and has evoked a range of emotions in people, from hatred and disgust, to love and adoration, to even emotional pain." -Forrest King
The Beauty of Angst Oil on Canvas 36x36
This painting defines Forrest's entire line. Notice how the girl on the left is actually smaller than the one on the right. She is smaller and more uncomfortable in a contrived, socially-acceptable uniform. The girl on the right, naked and smirking, is above the system and not held prisoner by the jaws of pious society. Some have described it as the Duality of Man. Here is what Forrest has to say about it:
“Sometimes we don’t realize how much society, organized religion, government, media, or whatever else, controls us. Generation “Y”, on the other hand, may understand this concept more than any other generation. It is said we are the most rebellious generation yet, and of course the alternative youth are leading the fray of supposed anarchy.
But do we crave anarchy? Are we really anti-government, anti-church, anti-authority? I think so to an extent, but I think it’s a deeper issue. I think we want something deeper. We see through the façade of these organizations and political sanctions. It’s all about control. Older generations would rather bite the bit and plow for corporate America, and even knowingly ignore that they were controlled, and even used.
Generation “Y” sees what their parents and grandparents went through, and we want better. We want to express ourselves the way we want, despite how offensive or inappropriate it may be. It’s who we are, and if that is offensive then go fuck yourself. We are all offensive when we are stripped naked and shown for what we are. The only people this generation wants to judge are those who are judging. We are sick of being pushed down by the thumb of conformity, and are inevitably rising against it.
This generation is not ashamed. This generation is not apathetic. This generation is not evil, satanic, worried, insecure, lazy or worthless… we are just misunderstood. Misunderstood because we are immune to brainwashing. How so? Because we ask questions. We want to know why we “have” to do something. We are not questioning wisdom because we’re stupid. The great wise men of history are in the history books because they questioned conventional wisdom. They questioned authority. They questioned whether the right thing to do was actually the right thing to do; and that is exactly what generation “Y” is about.
No, we don’t trust, because we know that power is found in control, and the more control we have over ourselves, the more powerful we become. Hence the fear we instill in the older generations who still think we may conform to the old way… the way of the old lights. But we are the new lights that will take the world in a new direction of change and possibly revolution.
In the painting, you can see the beauty of our angst. The smirk of self-confidence in our own skin, untainted and un-conformed to a generic and safe façade. When we are sometimes forced to conform, we shrink inside, and our smiles turn to frowns as our ripe wings of individuality are torn off. When this happens we are forced into a state of apathy just to cope with the fact that we are not accepted as we are.”
Location: Flux Studios Art Gallery, Laramie, WY