British Artist Pure Evil Double Dips Inventor & Actress Hedy Lamarr For Debut RUN

We welcome in British artist Pure Evil who joins us for his debut RUN featuring actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr for his very first RUN with us Hedy Watch The Stars (Hedy Lamarr The Inventor.) Hand-pulled by Pure Evil in the UK, we’re happy to showcase not only with standard red and pink editions, but 10 unique hand-painted double sided prints with the reverse side featuring the screen printed image of a crying Statue of Liberty. Read on as Pure Evil gives us the rundown on Hedy Lamarr, his debut RUN and much more . . .

1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight about this image?
Pure Evil: Hedy Lamarr & the Invention of Spread Spectrum Technology

. Although better known for her silver screen exploits, Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr (born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler) also became a pioneer in the field of wireless communications following her emigration to the United States. The international beauty icon, along with co-inventor George Anthiel, developed a “Secret Communications System” to help combat the Nazis in World War II. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. 

Lamarr and Anthiel received a patent in 1941, but the enormous significance of their invention was not realized until decades later. It was first implemented on naval ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequently emerged in numerous military applications. But most importantly, the “spread spectrum” technology that Lamarr helped to invent would galvanize the digital communications boom, forming the technical backbone that makes cellular phones, fax machines and other wireless operations possible.

 Proving she was much more than just another pretty face, Lamarr shattered stereotypes and earned a place among the 20th century’s most important women inventors. She truly was a visionary whose technological acumen was far ahead of its time.

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?
Pure Evil: This is part of ‘The Nightmare Series’: A chance email from a Chinese “copy village” gave inspiration to this series. The village offered, via email, a list of artists it could reproduce, including three Andy Warhol paintings. The idea of Warhol’s entire artistic output distilled right down to three small 64×64 pixel thumbnails of Jackie Kennedy, Liz Taylor and an Electric Chair became the inspiration for these doomed and dripping celebrity portraits. Why are they crying ? I think we have all experienced sadness in our lives, sometimes this is buried under the surface. I wanted to make the sadness visible using the tear. I have had my heart torn apart and art was the thing that saved me from oblivion, and I wanted to express some of that through my image making. I want it to be raw.

1x: When was this piece created and what materials were used?
Pure Evil:I have been developing this image over a few months, it started with a canvas , and then became a print. I cut the stencils by hand, then spray these onto different layers on acetate, which is used to expose the screens, Everything is done by hand so the edges have a rough, spray painted natural finish.

1x: Tell us how the idea and execution came about for this image?
Pure Evil: I wanted to show how Hedy is an inspiring figure for a new generation of powerful activist women. I wanted to make a really simplified NO BULLSHIT image of her because that is how I make my art. Keep it simple. No fake shit.

1x: How long did this image take to create from start to finish?
Pure Evil: It has been in incubation for a few months.. or maybe its been growing in me all my life.

1x: What is unique about this piece compared with your other work?
Pure Evil: Usually the image is central, this time it’s a completely unique perspective. It’s the first print from the Nightmare Series I have released in the USA. I’m proud that its coming out from Detroit, it’s an amazing city with a powerful history.

1x: Why should people buy this one of these prints?
Pure Evil: Hopefully people like the image and like what I do. I would like people to feel a connection with the image and maybe get a feeling of euphoria from it.

1x: Describe this image in one gut reaction word.
Pure Evil: Love.

1x: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Pure Evil: Probably in the womb. My dad was a painter and also my grandfather, so its in my genes to make art. A crocodile, when I was abut 4.

1x: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now? 
Pure Evil: Picasso, Basquiat, and my father, John Uzzell Edwards. Every day I find a new artist I love on Instagram.

1x: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Pure Evil: I listen to a radio station called BEATS IN SPACE and my own music too. I have a music studio in the attic of my house where I make wonky electronic music. Check it out on my website.

1x: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artist?
Pure Evil: I would like to make some art with Blek Le Rat. He is a good friend and he has a beautiful house in the French countryside, and usually he has good wine, so it’s a win win. I wouldn’t mind going to hang out with Picasso in Paris, mainly to bar hop with him. We could sit at a quiet table and draw, get nice an drunk and then walk the streets of Paris and be “flaneurs.”

1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Pure Evil: I love my James Rosenquist print from 1965 from his show at Leo Castelli. Recently I just bought 5 pieces by Albert Reyes. So awesome.

1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Pure Evil: I have a solo show called HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT at Vertical Gallery in Chicago, that opens on June 1st.

1x: Where else can people find you?
Pure Evil: WebsiteInstagram @pureevilgallery – Twtter @pureevilgallery

– 1xRUN