Chris Doyle

Hybridity in Art

Hybridity is a principal of Postmodern Art which is a combination of two or more forms of art into one work of Art. Through this technique an artist's work is better able to communicate a fresh idea. This is due to the fact that Hybridity allows for unpredictability in one's practiced art form. The unpredictability is what prevents the viewer from contextualizing the work of art with a previous experience. That is why Hybridity can be a very interesting and advanced form to communicate meaning through. Hybridity also allows for a specific subject to be analyzed in more depth. It allows for deeper analysis by granting the ability to view the subject through different mediums at the same time.

Chris Doyle - Background

Chris Doyle is a postmodern artist who uses hybridity in most of his work. Chris Doyle is originally from Pennsylvania and currently lives in both Brooklyn, New York, and Mexico City, Mexico. He was born in 1959 and would later attend Boston College School of Arts and Sciences for his Bachelor of Fine Arts. Chris Doyle uses animation in conjunction with other forms of art to depict and ponder aspiration and apocalypse. This leads most of his work to include some form of ruins, debris, or waste. The aspiration and progress seen in his work is usually built upon the devastation or destruction of that civilization, and leading to the destruction of the next civilization.

Chris Doyle - "The Fluid"

Doyle uses hybridity to focus on one of the themes throughout his work, cycles. In his animated short "The Fluid" (video below) a landscape is depicted with streams of multicolor water. These streams fluctuate and alter the landscape continuously throughout the short. At the end of the short once the all of the water has subsided it reveals the landscape from the beginning. The short shows that no matter how many countless iterations occur, everything ends up back where it began.

Chris Doyle - "Idyllwild"

This piece by Chris Doyle is third in a series of five animations based upon the Course of Empire paintings by Thomas Cole. Idyllwild focuses specifically on the savage state painting in Thomas Cole's series of five. More specifically, Idyllwild looks at the turbulent sky of the savage state. The work utilizes water color painting projected onto the wall and floor. The two projectors project generative shapes ever changing and reshaping the relationship between each other.

 

Chris Doyle - "Waste_Generation"

Waste_Generation is the second work in Chris Doyles series on the Course of Empire. This work discusses human nature and the contrast between construction and destruction. Doyle is communicating the actions of humans in both their constructive and destructive manners. He is also comparing and relating plants and organic life with patterns as well as ornamental design. He uses organic patterns and unnatural patterns to contrast man and nature. Once again Doyles use of the theme of cyclicism shines through his work. Cyclicism shows through in the way that the humans are their the cause of their success and failure.

Chris Doyle - Inspiration

The three pieces that I chose to discuss are also the three of his works that inspire me most. The Fluid inspires me in the ways that it uses high contrast images throughout its landscapes. This gives the animation a unique and striking visual appeal. I will utilize this in my own work to enhance clarity and draw attention to key elements of a composition. I am also interested in incorporating the the theme of cycles into my work. This theme is utilized by seeing the landscape transform into what it started as. To me this theme is used to show that some things are permanent no matter what. Idyllwild is another piece of Doyle's which greatly inspired me. I loved the uses of rhythm and conflict between the two projections. The sharp definition, elongated shapes, and gradual movement made the work almost hypnotic. In my own work I would like to explore the use of reflected images and shadows. The way that the shapes distort and conflict can create a unique equilibrium within a shot. Lastly Doyles use of color and unity in Waste_Generation were greatly impactful. From the opening shot unity can be seen throughout the plethora of televisions scattered about. The careful and precise placement of each one in the image creates a rhythmic look as your eye bounces from like object to like object. The colorful image created by the variety of junk also draws attention to the scene. As the world is reborn the use of color and light change the tone of the image. While in the junkyard the variety of colors appears chaotic, in the forest the color almost flows peacefully. Patterns appear natural and peaceful in contradiction to the informal balance of the human world. In my own work I will try to utilize color and patterns to better divulge understanding to the audience. I look forward to the next project where I am able to attempt to use these new principals.