Caleb Hazen

individual, ENTITY.2832
Life Dates:
b. 1987
Nationality:
American
GVSU Alumni Status:
GVSU Alum, 2009
Artist Biography:
I'm sure that anyone would agree with me when I say that a piece of art is like an individual human being. Every piece has something to say to the viewer, and they can be hilarious, thought-provoking, or just downright rude. Some art seems to babble like a lunatic, other art preaches at the viewers, while some art simply sits by and looks pretty. The individual narratives contained within any given piece can be as varied and numerous as people, but I am attracted to the story that becomes a conversation, rather than witty one-liners delivered over and over again. Dave McKean put it best, "When it comes to finding stories to tell, it's a bit like a joke. A great joke. It's not that funny the second time. But you can still watch a great performer tell it endlessly."

My work reaches into the realm of Surrealism, tapping into the power of subconscious suggestion. With narrative that speaks volumes but no specifics, I can simultaneously activate a variety of thoughts from the viewer. These buried thoughts are unique to the person, and transforms the piece into a slightly different story every time it is viewed.

It is for this reason I have been drawn to Illustration as a career. The idea of a thousand and one narratives slumbering in each person's mind drives me to create art that speaks the insane language of the latent psyche, allowing the art to perhaps connect to or awaken one of those stories.