Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Cincinnati grad student turning MySpace profile pictures into art
By Chad Reid
The News Record, U. Cincinnati
March 01, 2009

It’s tough to imagine most MySpace pictures being art, especially the standard pretentious pictures that are staples on the site. But University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning graduate student Paul Loehle searched the Web site, found the most average-looking profile pictures and turned them into intricate paintings.

“They’re usually pretty crappy, amateurish shots,” Loehle said. “The whole idea is to take that fleeting little image that you think of as a snapshot and make it into this permanent work of art.”

His exhibit, “MyFace: Drawings From The Social Network – Recent Work by Paul Loehle,” is being shown at the Design Smith Gallery in Over-The-Rhine and made its debut Friday, Feb. 26. Loehle said he generally waits until after he paints a picture to inform his subjects about it.

“Most people are generally kind of flattered,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to tell them afterward instead of asking permission.”

“I was interested in how people wanted themselves to be perceived,” he said. “What’s interesting about MySpace is how they allow people to be able to create an identity.”

Gallery owner David Smith found Loehle’s work when he was looking for a last minute replacement to show. Smith, also a DAAP graduate, said although he had shown many UC artists over his 11-years owning the gallery, he was particularly drawn to Loehle’s work.

“It’s a juxtaposition because the final product is a similar product [to the original photo],” Smith said. “He meticulously spends the time to recreate someone’s random, thoughtless image.”

Smith said the genius of Loehle’s work is that it’s counterintuitive. “He takes a classic bad snap shot,” he said. “A bad photo but an extraordinary painting.”

Loehle also painted a self-portrait of himself to make it look like a MySpace photo. When shown in the gallery, it blends in with the other MySpace profile portraits. He even painted a tattoo that he doesn’t really have.

“One of the things about the project is MySpace or Facebook is something everyone has, and it’s important for people to be exposed to it in a different way,” Loehle said. “Some art can be elitist, but this particular body of work is something everybody can identify with.”

The paintings can also be purchased, ranging in price from $350 to $600. Loehle said the art can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month to complete.

“What Paul has done is explored the practice of appropriation,” Smith said.

“He’s created hyper-realistic portraits of these profile pictures.”

The final two showings for Loehle’s exhibit are Friday, March 6, and Saturday March 7, from noon to 6 p.m., at 1342 Main St. For more information about the exhibit and gallery, visit the Web site at www.designsmithgallery.com.

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