Canadian artist Earth Crusher returns with his latest edition Look At This Loser, featuring his signature speakerheaded overseer peering down ominously onto a passerby from a looming billboard. Finding himself returning to billboards over and over, Earth Crusher uses the advertising vehicle as an overarching symbol of power and manipulation controlled by major media outlets constantly watching us. Alongside two editions we’ve also got a collection of original artwork and sketches from Earth Crusher. Read on for the full story behind Look At This Loser, and snag your favorite piece of original artwork and a print before they are gone . . .
1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight about this image?
Earth Crusher: This piece is created from a photo I took in Windsor, Ontario when I was in town painting a mural in 2015.
1x: Was this image part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Earth Crusher: I’ve been fixated on billboards for a long time and they are definitely a recurring theme in my work. To me, a billboard is a symbol of power and manipulation, where the media not only broadcasts messages to their audience, but they actively watch and collect data on us as well. As I’ve illustrated Earth Crusher leaning out of the billboard to observe his lowly subjects, I imagine the major media owners (i.e. the Zuck) looking over us with eyes that never close.
1x: When was this drawn and created? What materials were used to create this original piece?
Earth Crusher: Plain ol’ acrylic paint on wood panel during the winter of 2016/17.
1x: Tell us how the idea and execution came about for this image? How long did it take from start to finish?
Earth Crusher: I liked this photo I took in Windsor with the man walking along the sidewalk and thought it would be a good fit to have him being looked down on from the billboard. When I got back home, I put on a suit and did a little photo shoot for reference and put it all together. I never really time myself when it comes to paintings, but from concept to completion I’d say a month or two.
1x: What is unique about this piece compared with your other work?
Earth Crusher: This is one of my first larger, full-color paintings on this subject. I was usually working in a more monotone, minimalist style up until last year when I began pushing a more scene painting style.
1x: Describe this image in one gut reaction word.
Earth Crusher: Overseer.
1x: What have you been up to over the last few months? Bring us up to speed on how things have been going recently for you…
Earth Crusher: I spent my winter up here in Montreal trying new mediums like sculpey and working on new paintings in the studio. I developed an addiction to Japanese brush pens, and I also got a new tablet to try my hand at digital art.
1x: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Earth Crusher: My friend Monk-e just released a new album and poetry book, which is the last art piece I bought.
1x: Do you have any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Earth Crusher: I’m participating in a group show that is going to be traveling to all the continents. It’s called “Punchlines” but there are no links out there yet.
1xRUN: Where else can people find you?
Earth Crusher: Website – Instagram @earth_crusher + @a_shop
-1xRUN