Existing comment:
Anna U. Davis
Washington, DC
Anna U. Davis, who grew up in Sweden and presently lives in Washington, DC, proves that the influence of the comic aesthetic extends far beyond the scope of traditional comic book-lovers; until recently, Davis says, she neither read comics nor counted the genre among her influences. Her intricate collages feature both abstract and detailed, realistic imagery that has been collected from contemporary fashion magazines. From afar, the viewer experiences the composition as a series of bold, heavy lines, solid colors and simple shapes. At close range, however, he or she realizes that Davis has used specific, commercial images to create this field of color and line. The repeated use of specific images to create this field of color imbues the illustrated object with greater significance and ambiguous, overarching narratives. In a single panel of work, Davis tells a story using the exaggerated expressions of male and female characters called "Frocasians" -- a person without a distinctive race. Despite the fact that Davis does not draw inspiration directly from comics, her work has been compared to the likes of Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring. One of Davis' current projects will go so far as to include another iconic facet of the comic genre: a strong, independent female superhero that travels the world. |