Reality Bytes

In the hysterical, superscripted world of French artist Arthur de Pins, reality is an out of whack realm that’s begging for attention, laughs, study and introspection. Mixing pure wit with ample creativity, the observation of mankind and all its idiotic idiosyncrasies has never been this clever or belly achingly funny. With computer-enhanced drawings, the frames look like a slick, out of an Academy award-winning animated feature. But is it art? P.Ramakrishnan says, "Hell yeah!"



Within the technicolour, bilingual (French and English) official website of Arthur de Pins, 29, there are various samples of his artwork, clips of the mini films he’s made, posters, portraits, caricatures of celebrities and more. It’s multimedia art that pretenders often speak of, but perhaps de Pins is one of the few to realise.

“When I was at university, I wanted to choose between animation and illustrations,” says the artist. “Now it looks like I’m doing both. Today, everything is mixed together; comic books are turned into TV series, illustrations are animated in Flash, and illustrators work hand in hand with animators on character design. So inspiration is coming from everywhere. As for me, it’s mostly from Europe and Japan, but the software I use (illustrator) has also its own ‘style’ – drawing without outlines, pastel colours – it’s a mix of everything.”

There is an online cult follwing of de Pins’ work with odes thrown at him like virtual bouquet hoisted towards thespians. With devilish detail, his portrayals of daily Parisian life are exaggerated, comical wonders. Using vector graphics (with Photoshop), every little nuance and minutiae of life is captured. In one of his images, a gaggle of girls try to put their makeup on in front of a mirror. Mouths wide open, their expansive eyes peer at their visages being covered with powder and puff… but pay attention to the precocious little girl in the centre trying to make room and grab a lipstick that’s got the essence of image, the seminal theme within the frame. Well, e-frame!

With an exhibition of his work in the making, de Pins is also working on a film, a sample of his short featurettes already visible online and heavily pirated and redistributed by fanatics (who are of course breaching copyright laws - whatever their intentions may be - by hosting them on their web sites, youtube and the like).

“I’m working on a feature film based on my short movie, “La Revolution des Crabes,” says de Pins, a short film which has already won 33 creative prizes (see it online at www.arthurdepins.com).

His perspective of Paris is diametrically different to those who view it for its architecture, art and sartorial scenario. No moist paintings of couples kissing in gardens with iconic sites blurring in the distance. There isn’t a cliché in sight and his images have delicious unpredictability.

De Pins’ universe is almost exactly like ours, minus the drudgery and mundane grayness, the long pockets of time where nothing happens eradicated and only its brightest moments are captured. In a tailspin of activity, a bus ride becomes a multiple act of characters living their daily lives, trying to fit into a tight space while maintain their distinct quirks. An S&M couple, half nude, find each other in leather straps and translucent tops, among a mélange of humdrum others, who seem listless in their angst inside the vehicle.
Women have exaggerated figures of old coke bottles; rotund bottoms and pronounced cleavages. Men seem lackadaisical and half asleep, listening to their own music whilst trying to escape their quotidian world.

Unrestricted by his own surroundings, the erotic and sometimes violent images can be sourced to inspiration that’s transatlantic. “I’m inspired by ‘fashion’ illustrators like Kiraz, LJordi Labada and Monsieur Z, and also by Japanese cartoons – as any other French cartoonist is!”

What separates de Pins from any hack with access to Photoshop is the technical finesse and depth to this work. Its in the shading, gradation and choice of colours, the subtle comic genius that’s clearly at work. If only reality was as interesting. In fact, if only the multi-million dollar comedies churned out of Hollywood resulted in as many laughs!

The way his dream works, perhaps a project with Spielberg is indeed prescient. “One day I’d like to make an animation with exactly the same kid of drawing of my illustrations, but it’s not possible at the moment because my characters are too complex to be drawn by hand and frame by frame. Maybe later a new software will allow that.”

When asked to send us a self-portrait (this interview as done by phone and e-mail), he sent the image on the cover page. You gotta laugh.