ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: RYAN SESLOW
When did you first start making GIFs? What was your first GIF?
I took awareness to GIF making and its potentials about 4 years ago but I was making a minimal amount of GIFs then. The last two years have been prominent. Most of the earliest experimental pieces are buried on external drives. I really should look back at those now as they may supply missing fragments to current work. At this time stop motion animation was already popular but it was evolving as a new contemporary art medium. This idea synthesized with my love and desire to create video art and experimental films put together the formula. The first GIF I made was simply a mash up of one of my paintings at the time. It wasn’t very interesting but it certainly taught me that a single still image has a tremendous amount of potential. I love that idea. After a while, catching snippets of film and existing motion related art took flight as well.
What kind of a process do you go through to create your art?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist. I work in many mediums simultaneously to produce large installations. The installations usually consist of a series of thematic paintings, drawings, screen prints and sculptures. Videos and GIF are then generated from the content in the installations or created in the process of documenting the manual work. This is one definition that I find I am constantly re-defining as the work changes and how technology plays a role in the evolution of my process. So much to learn and share.
Why GIF art? What makes it more appealing than other mediums?
For me, it is a natural extension of my creative process. I love to make things. I love to generate and produce new things. I’m kind of obsessed with this process. I could never limit myself to only one art form or medium. I think that would be silly. GIF making is another great outlet, it is another energy to develop and express myself through. I feel like it is very much in its infancy right now, even with the amazing stuff that is out there. There is so much more to come. GIF making gives me the feeling and excitement of an infinite creative potential. That feeling is a ton of power, ideas never cease, they just keep flowing. I stay out of my own way and keep making things. We can always make edits and judge what is quality later. GIFs are here to stay even while I make manual works, I love the synthesis of manual and technology based art.
Who are a few of your favorite GIF artists/artists in general?
Hands down, right now, General Howe, Jessica Fenlon, Michael Branson Smith are three of my favorite GIF artists. Mainly because they are pushing the context of the medium. I love fun and silly GIFs that make me laugh, I love colorful GIFs that induce new ways of experiencing abstraction, and of course GIFs that induce feelings and emotions, but these three artists address social commentary, serious issues and cultural fragments that we all have trouble understanding. I love artists that expose and help me see the world in a new way. I find this quality with in these artists. I’m including the web links to see their work as it is necessary. As far as non GIF artists, man, its so hard to address this question, there are too many! At the moment, James Turrell’s show at the Guggenheim is inspiring the hell out of me. There is a pretty tight “no photo” enforcement rule going on there but I would love to make some GIFs based on images from this show! I love his insights on light and space and how we perceive out physical reality. I’m a huge street art and graffiti enthusiast as well as an active participant. I love the work of John Fekner, Futura, Chris Stain, Jen “Cake” Caviola, Leon Reid IV, Martha Cooper, Swoon, H. Veng Smith, SEBS, Luna Park, Lady Pink, & Faile. Too many to name!
GIF by General Howe
What is your all-time favorite GIF?
Also, a tough question. but as I mentioned, General Howe and Jessica Fenlon have created GIFs that have had a huge impact on me and context of what the potential of GIF making can be on our culture. General Howes “Disasters of War” series blows me away, there are a dozen or more in this series and you will have to visit his site to fully understand my sentiments here. It touches on 9/11 and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, Jessica Fenlon’s “UnGun” series if also extremely powerful as it creates a new awareness about gun violence. It is a must see. Both of these artists have taken huge risks putting this work out there, I admire and respect this in a huge way.
GIF by Jessica Fenlon
Check out more of Ryan Seslow’s art on Giphy and download a screensaver with his art.
