Preston Douglas, Repurposed Religion, Photo by Alex Conradt
Written by Victor Sledge February 25, 2024
Why is it that choirs can move people to tears at spiritual gatherings? Of course, the melody tugs at the heartstrings, and the lyrics speak to the hearts of each person in the room. But is it also the unity of seeing a collection of voices fill a room and become one song? Is it a gathering of individuals in a room, all released into the same spiritual movement, transformed into a congregational body? Interdisciplinary artist Preston Douglas might wonder so.
“We are all connected, one organism, one consciousness, one energy, one frequency, we know that, but what is it?” Really What does that mean?” Preston asks.
That is the question Preston appears to be addressing in his interdisciplinary practice. His answer seems to stem from the spirituality he found in the sense of unity it brought to the venue after experiencing worship music at a church service.
Preston never thought of going to a church service, but a moving experience he had while attending a church service with his mother in her hometown of Houston, Texas, led Preston to step out of his comfort zone. He says it gave him an opportunity to get out. .
“When I heard the worship music at the beginning of the service, I had a spiritual experience similar to the first time I saw a Cy Twombly movie. Untitled (Farewell, Catulus, to the coast of Asia Minor) 1994 Menil Collection, if not more so,” he recalls. “Now I go back to Houston every Sunday to chase that dragon, and I often find myself crying in awe of the atmosphere of faith and healing energy.”
That experience now lives on in the way his work touches viewers.
his performance art series Repurposed ReligionFor example, by having models wear items from his haute couture line 77EAVEN, surrounded by an audience in a circle, as opposed to a traditional catwalk setup, and dancing to an immersive musical experience, he I’m erasing the boundaries between the art styles I work with.
“I spend a lot of time in music studios, design studios, dance studios, Repurposed Religion I want to create this world with my collaborators,” says Preston, who draws inspiration from his own spiritual experiences.
The performers weave their way through the crowd, Repurposed Religion Bringing everyone involved back together as one body. Preston’s work proves to be a kind of spiritual experience, as everyone becomes part of the same conversation, immersed in the music, fashion, and movement. And as you experience Repurposed ReligionHere, the spirituality inherent in Preston’s work and art itself is demonstrated for you and by you.
It’s just one of the ways Preston pushes the boundaries of practice. He has built himself as an artist not bound by tradition or expectations, but rather inspired by the idea of breaking through those constructs.
Preston’s work is completely expanded by his willingness to step beyond boundaries. His artistic practice is both fashion and painting, and performance is his art and fashion at the same time.
“The great thing about being an artist is that it’s such an inclusive term that you can work in all of the different mediums and get back to your true core as an artist,” he says. Masu. “My mentor, Mark Flood, encouraged me to think about the things that would ‘disqualify’ me as an artist and to make art around and through those lenses. . ”
Preston’s ongoing “Zipper Paintings” bring this feeling to life, incorporating fashion into painting. This series uses fabrics, zippers, custom zipper pulls, and famous fashion brand logos to create three-dimensional abstract paintings.
Preston Douglas, Frequencies of Desire (details)
Visually, “Zipper Painting” is surprisingly captivating. The pictures draw you in, but a series of zippers that say, “HOPE IS ALIVE,” for example, lock you into the experience. Considering the depth of meaning behind the series, the visual aesthetic of this piece suddenly becomes heavier.
“Just like in our reality, what we see in this physical reality is often not what it really is on closer inspection. I am struck by its beauty at first. “I’m drawn to abstract paintings,” he says. “After being struck by this strong sense of beauty, yet another essential layer must be revealed.”
These paintings explore how corporatocracy influences modern culture and draw covert parallels to how corporations function in our lives. Just as corporate politics, beauty and wealth that we see on the surface often hide hidden truths, glamorous work can have surprising meanings.
“These paintings aren’t just distorted and glorified corporate logos,” Preston explains. “These works aim to restore faith in humanity and that God works through us as humans.”
You can see how Preston’s spirituality zips through his work. “HOPE IS ALIVE” is a phrase he found on a piece of paper his mother had posted on her window during the peak of quarantine.
Preston Douglas, In The Instinct, 2023, dye-sublimated charmeuse, zipper, custom zipper pull on custom aluminum stretcher, 80 x 60 inches (203.2 x 152.4 cm)
“My MO is often pessimism, so at the end of the day I remind myself that there is an optimist in me too. And I listen to that message. “My life tends to be better when I choose to lean into it and live accordingly,” he says. “I want it to be a reminder to others to hold on to hope in the midst of chaos, darkness, and despair.”
Whether inspired by his spirituality, the oneness of life around us, or the sheer despair of this time of turmoil, Preston embodies that hope in his work while also bringing it to our eyes. It seems like you are openly questioning the issues that are hidden in front of you.
As an artist who is multifaceted and fearless not only in the ideas he captures, but in how he presents them, Preston brings audiences close to home in a way that keeps audiences grounded in our spiritual connections and shared experiences. I have no doubt that I will continue to expand on these works in the future.
“we, Repurposed Religion Performance with the Weinhold Project interreality “We’re hosting it here in Los Angeles on February 28th as part of Freeze Week,” he says of his next steps.
He will also debut the spiritual couture experience “77EAVEN” as his official return to fashion.
But what’s important about Preston’s next steps is where he leads himself. He is at ease with how his spirituality enhances and transcends his work, and this will certainly be reflected as he continues his creations.
“I have all kinds of plans and desires, but God has different plans sometimes and I have to trust in that reality,” he says.
For more information about Preston, please visit his website. Website Follow him on Instagram @culturebitch
To learn more about his performance, Repurposed Religion in interreality It’s in Los Angeles, so be sure to visit here. W.M.
