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Phlegm: The Artist Who Paints in Silence
Phlegm‘s name carries more significance than a casual glance might suggest. Borrowing from the ancient Greek system of medicine, the term “phlegm” was one of the four humors used to describe human temperament, associated with a calm and detached nature. This concept resonated with Phlegm, who consciously adopted the name as an extension of his artistic approach. As an artist who prefers to let his work speak for itself, he found solace in the idea of remaining somewhat detached from the emotional engagement that art can demand. His murals, imbued with surreal landscapes and elongated figures, stand as silent witnesses to his intent of existing behind the scenes, allowing his creations to take center stage without the overt presence of their maker.
Phlegm’s preference for letting his art speak extends beyond mere anonymity. His work thrives on creating otherworldly narratives that transport viewers to dreamlike worlds, where the surreal often blends with the familiar. His murals are visual stories, unfolding across walls, each detail contributing to an overarching narrative that is simultaneously fantastical and grounded in reality. Phlegm’s long-limbed creatures and intricate flying machines represent a world that lives between the lines of fiction and truth. The imagery he creates feels like a dream—both recognizable and strange, inviting audiences to step into a parallel universe. By crafting these expansive, narrative-driven landscapes, Phlegm fulfills his vision of storytelling without needing words, where each mural invites viewers to craft their own interpretation of the unfolding scenes.
This deep-rooted commitment to storytelling is what sets Phlegm’s art apart. His creative process stems from a natural inclination toward visual narratives, honed during his early days as a comic artist. Starting out with handmade books and self-published comics, he used the intimate format of the page as his canvas. The transition from small-scale comic books to vast murals may seem like a leap, but for Phlegm, the shift was organic. His comics were always more than static images; they were stories told through sequence and careful detail. As his canvas grew from page to wall, his approach to storytelling followed suit, resulting in murals that serve as snapshots of larger, imagined tales. This ability to transform his comic background into expansive mural work demonstrates Phlegm’s versatility and enduring passion for creating narratives that invite viewer participation.
Phlegm: Master of Monochrome
A signature feature of Phlegm’s art is his dedication to monochrome, a choice that strips his murals of color but adds a remarkable focus on line and detail. For Phlegm, the absence of color is not a limitation but a tool that sharpens the viewer’s attention to the intricacies of the piece. Black and white create a stark contrast that enhances the delicate linework he meticulously crafts, encouraging a closer look at the composition. The fine lines, cross-hatching, and textural techniques he employs mimic the old engravings that inspire his work, giving his murals an almost timeless quality. In an age where vibrant color often dominates public art, Phlegm’s monochrome murals stand as quiet yet bold statements that invite contemplation.
The appeal of monochrome lies in its ability to bring forth complexity from simplicity. Phlegm finds the lack of color liberating in a way, allowing the focus to remain on the story within the image rather than being diluted by vibrant hues. By limiting his palette, he creates a visual language that is focused, precise, and full of depth. This approach not only defines his aesthetic but also evokes a sense of timelessness, as though the work could belong to any era. The black-and-white world he paints feels like a step back in time, resonating with a past that never was, filled with castles, creatures, and flying machines that suggest a medieval yet futuristic dreamscape.
In recent years, Phlegm has taken his love for linework and detail further by delving into copper engraving, a medium that demands patience and precision. For him, engraving is not just a technique but a meditative practice, a way of slowing down and committing to the permanence of each mark. The act of engraving, with its slow, deliberate process, offers a sense of control that appeals to Phlegm’s meticulous nature. Using a burin to carve into copper allows him to explore a different kind of storytelling, where each line is irrevocable, locked in time. His devotion to this method showcases his dedication to craftsmanship and his belief in the beauty of slow, methodical work.
Building Worlds, One Mural at a Time
Phlegm’s murals are often shaped by the very spaces they inhabit. His ability to create site-specific works that harmonize with their surroundings is part of what makes his public art so impactful. Whether painting on the side of a building in a bustling city or in an abandoned industrial site, he approaches each project with a sensitivity to the environment. Before beginning a mural, Phlegm immerses himself in the space, observing the flow of people and the architecture that will serve as his canvas. This thoughtful approach allows his work to exist seamlessly within its context, creating a sense of harmony between the mural and its location. His murals never feel intrusive but rather as though they naturally belong in the space, a quiet commentary on the world around them.
The artist’s sensitivity to place is most evident in his ambitious installation, Mausoleum of the Giants. This project, set in an abandoned industrial space, was a return to Phlegm’s roots, both in terms of location and scale. The giants he created for the installation filled the decaying factory with a sense of grandeur and melancholy, evoking the feeling of entering a forgotten cathedral. The choice of scale was deliberate; by making the giants larger than life, Phlegm aimed to create a sense of awe, much like walking into a vast, sacred space. The installation was a reflection on the passage of time, the power of space, and the smallness of humanity within the grander scheme of things.
Scale has always played a critical role in how Phlegm approaches his work. Whether creating intricate engravings or monumental murals, he understands how size influences perception. Larger works can overwhelm, invoking feelings of awe, while smaller, detailed pieces invite quiet introspection. In Mausoleum of the Giants, the sheer scale of the figures required viewers to confront their own size in relation to the artwork. Yet, despite their enormity, the giants retained a human quality, creating a balance between the colossal and the relatable. This tension between scale and relatability is a hallmark of Phlegm’s work, compelling viewers to consider their place in the world his art creates.
Phlegm: Anonymity and the Art of Silence
For Phlegm, remaining anonymous has never been about mystery for mystery’s sake; it’s about shifting focus away from the artist and placing it solely on the art. By withholding his identity, Phlegm allows viewers to experience his work without the distraction of knowing who created it. This approach stems from his belief that the work should exist independently, with no need for a signature or personal attribution. His choice to remain out of the spotlight is also a reflection of the temperament he embodies—calm, detached, and content to let the work speak for itself. In a world where the artist’s persona often overshadows the art, Phlegm’s anonymity feels like a breath of fresh air, encouraging viewers to engage with the murals on their own terms.
This anonymity extends to his murals, which are often unsigned, further emphasizing the idea that the work is part of the space it inhabits, not an external force imposed upon it. Phlegm’s decision to forgo signing his pieces speaks to his desire for the work to exist as naturally as possible within its environment. The absence of a signature or a visible artist allows the murals to feel less like objects of display and more like organic parts of the landscape. By stepping back, Phlegm invites the audience to step forward, to fill in the gaps, and to engage with the work without preconceived notions.
As he reflects on his journey and the advice he would give to young artists, Phlegm emphasizes the importance of honesty and personal narrative. He encourages emerging artists to immerse themselves in the things that truly inspire them, to fill their minds with stories, images, and experiences that shape their own unique perspectives. In an age dominated by social media, where trends can often overshadow individuality, Phlegm advocates for stepping outside the echo chamber and finding one’s own voice. For him, art is not just about self-expression; it’s about creating worlds that resonate with the audience, offering them a space to explore and interpret.
