Thomas Menikos
Thomas Menikos is a tinkerer and doodler from Mansfield, Tx., his work is driven by personal narrative, his desire to connect with people, and his exploration of the smoke and mirrors behind the world of adulthood. Along with drawing, printmaking and sculpture, he stretches himself to work in forms such as video game design, packaging design , and furniture design. Thomas received his Master of Arts in Art in 2014 from the University of Dallas and is continuing his education towards a Master of Fine Arts.
"In childhood it is called imagination, in adulthood-Self-Projection. My work draws parallels between the worlds of adolescence and adulthood, and my life stories become the catalyst for me to explore these experiences and their resulting conclusions. Social parallels are the focus of these explorations. Specifically how the transition to adulthood denotes a maturation that is not entirely truthful, apparent in close social circles. The proverbial smoke and mirrors supporting the idea of adulthood, the shared pressures of performing to high standards and subsequent feelings of being an imposter form the foundational tones of the work. I seek to present these mixed experiences through the creation of lines of products. The consumption of these objects is meant to assist in the projection of one’s intended identity. They give space to think, laugh, and read just before appearing in public. The objects arise from the nostalgia for products of entertainment from my own childhood, and the experiences that could only exist through the consumption of those products. Autobiographical narrative and cynicism shape the means in which I create forums where commonalities can be shared.Material aesthetics derive from my continuing focus on the notion of authenticity. Just as in social standings, inherent qualities of an entity become more and more pronounced, slowly become caricatures of their respective forms. My visual language speaks through naive representations of hybridized personal and historic iconography where imagery of astronauts and cold war era space technology play on elements of unrealized projections of grandeur. The icon of the astronaut, being recognized by a spacesuit, and the humorously proclaimed best job by children, works as a mediating point within the work to incorporate ranges of work together, and to create a common identity that both myself and the audience can impress ourselves upon."
"In childhood it is called imagination, in adulthood-Self-Projection. My work draws parallels between the worlds of adolescence and adulthood, and my life stories become the catalyst for me to explore these experiences and their resulting conclusions. Social parallels are the focus of these explorations. Specifically how the transition to adulthood denotes a maturation that is not entirely truthful, apparent in close social circles. The proverbial smoke and mirrors supporting the idea of adulthood, the shared pressures of performing to high standards and subsequent feelings of being an imposter form the foundational tones of the work. I seek to present these mixed experiences through the creation of lines of products. The consumption of these objects is meant to assist in the projection of one’s intended identity. They give space to think, laugh, and read just before appearing in public. The objects arise from the nostalgia for products of entertainment from my own childhood, and the experiences that could only exist through the consumption of those products. Autobiographical narrative and cynicism shape the means in which I create forums where commonalities can be shared.Material aesthetics derive from my continuing focus on the notion of authenticity. Just as in social standings, inherent qualities of an entity become more and more pronounced, slowly become caricatures of their respective forms. My visual language speaks through naive representations of hybridized personal and historic iconography where imagery of astronauts and cold war era space technology play on elements of unrealized projections of grandeur. The icon of the astronaut, being recognized by a spacesuit, and the humorously proclaimed best job by children, works as a mediating point within the work to incorporate ranges of work together, and to create a common identity that both myself and the audience can impress ourselves upon."
-Thomas Menikos, 2016
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Thomas Menikos: (TERRA)
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