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Mel Memo
USA
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“My goal as an artist is to create work that inspires and challenges the viewer.”
Mel is an American artist that draws inspiration from a range of influences, including music, philosophy, and everyday life. His work is characterized by a black and white geometrical abstract style that is both visually striking and intellectually stimulating. Originally from Eastern Europe, Mel migrated to the United States at the age of 18 and currently resides in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Elixir | Mixed Media
28 X 40
This was the second attempt to finish a piece, after I took a long pause from drawing. I looked at this piece a week after I completed it and it surprised me, it seemed as if it was not something I did or could do. Every time I finish a piece now and look at it a couple of days after, I still don't know why I chose to draw those particular lines. There is always this feeling of familiarity and unfamiliarity to them, it’s weird, but I love that first reaction people have when they look at them
In his early years, Mel was captivated by the colorful and visually dynamic world of cartoon characters. The orchestral sounds accompanying the impossible and explosive movements of the characters played a significant role in developing his creative imagination and establishing a desire for self-expression.
Ms. Monster | Mixed Media
40 X 32
This was mostly inspired by many hours of Dr. Who reruns. The gender element was not an intended one. After it was completed, I had a difficult time ignoring the feminine presence in it and surprisingly enough once it was turned around with the bowtie up, it seemed to have captured the masculine aspect just as well. It provoked exciting contemplations, two in one, both equally complex yet different but occupying the exact same space...fascinating and very fitting with the introduction of Dr. 13
During his teenage years, he started experimenting and exploring the use of pencils, acrylics, and watercolors to create paintings that involved a range of subjects, some of which included a variety of flowers, everyday objects, and natural landscapes. As he continued to develop his artistic skills, he was introduced to the concept of divinity and paradise, depicted in the very famous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.
“I view my art as a reflection of the human experience, exploring the complex chemistry of light and dark, order and chaos, that characterizes our lives.”
He also became familiar with the idea of darkness and damnation portrayed in Dante’s work, illustrated by the talented Gustav Dore. During this time, he experienced his first encounter with love that added the element of passion to his art. These newfound interests led him to shift his focus to the study of animals and human anatomy, delving into the intricate connections and structures of the natural world.
Mr. Monster | Mixed Media
40 X 32
The word monster came from a song I was listening at the time I was adding the closing part of the piece. I thought, how independently beautiful the sounds of this song are in contrast to the very definition of the word itself. At the end it seems to all comes down to how one likes to wear the bowtie and as Dr Eleven would say, “Bowties are cool.” :)
This piece was the most frustrating and rewarding at the same time. It taught me discipline. Thought of how fitting this experience and its result was to our human existence. So seemingly fragile in respect of so many outside forces yet, somehow finds a way to repair itself through an unforgiving and mysterious persistence and has proven to be unbreakable throughout time as we know it. I owe it to my brother Enri.
Unbreakable | Mixed Media
42 X 66
As he got older and relocated to the United States, a sequence of unfortunate events devastated his passion to capture life on paper. However, through the support of his brother, along with his interest in music and philosophy, a new form of artistic expression emerged.
“I began to recreate the exhilarating feelings I experienced through motioned pictures by attempting to depict them on paper and that was my first introduction to art.”
“The black and white attire of my geometrical abstract style reflects the complexity and beauty of the world that surrounds us, exploring the relationship of light and dark, form and space, and the interplay of opposites.”
Motivated by a new thirst for knowledge, he embarks on a journey to unravel the complexity of the relationship between the kaleidoscope of human emotions provoked by experience, the seamless symphony of geometry, and music, as he steps into the art scene with his personalized style of abstract.
Heart | Mixed Media
42 X 37
Unintentionally, born out of the Unbreakable, it made sense to become its prequel.
Mel’s work is greatly impacted by music, particularly classical melodies, and electronic rhythms, which he views as a distinct form of abstraction within their own rights. The combination of sound and silence, rhythm, and melody, serves as a wellspring of inspiration for the fundamental principles of his geometrical creations.
Solitude | Mixed Media
53 X 93
Because sometimes is necessary.
Philosophy also plays a significant role in Mel’s work. He finds the opposing positions philosophers take with their intellectual battles to be very fascinating, entertaining as well as educational that help guide the elusiveness of his intricate detailing that capture the ever-growing abstraction of life’s complexity. This is reflected in his use of black and white tones, which creates a sense of tension and balance within the composition.
When you start to question things, you do and have done, over and over for the same meaningless purpose to get the same meaningless result…
Sisyphean | Mixed Media
“I am drawn to the implementation of geometric forms and started to produce intricate and visually provoking designs that embraced fragmented, abstract shapes.”
Kela | Mixed Media
Halfway through this I had a pleasant flashback of a cousin that I haven’t seen since childhood, so I named it after her.
Everyday life adds the never-ending inspiration that draws his fascination to the patterns and shapes that make up the world around us, from the lines and angles of buildings to the curves and contours of the human and other life forms. By isolating and abstracting these forms, he seeks to create a new visual language that challenges our perception of reality.
When a song hits you and you forget that you’re worried about something, or happy, or hungry, and just want to capture it in any way you can
Portion of Elixir | Mixed Media
He believes that art, as whole, can transform and inspire individuals as well as societies by continuously stimulating our imagination to overcome the impossibilities we face throughout our unique existences and is dedicated to use his talent to make a positive impact in the world.
Fragment of Solitude | Mixed Media
I saw the world of black and white and how infinite it was, and I couldn’t look away.
“Through my art, I seek to create a dialogue between the viewer and the artwork, provoking thought, and contemplation.”
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