Creating a Mythology with Skinless Frank
Interviewing one of Fiume's legendary artists
You may have seen the art of Skinless Frank before. Now he’s joined the Fiume Gallery and we’ve taken the time to sit down to interview him.
On May 10th I threw a launch party for my new art gallery Fiume in Chelsea and people are still talking about. You may have heard about it through my interview with our in-house artist Giovanni Pennacchietti of Gio’s Content Corner. Perhaps you attended our pre-launch party, that doubled as a Manifesto Salon, or even attended the Grand Opening of Fiume itself.
I’ll be doing a proper writeup with pictures from the event soon, so as to tell the story of the notorious Fiume launch in action, but for now I wanted to introduce you to the one and only Skinless Frank. It’s time for readers of The Cultural Futurist get to know the man behind the legend.
My friend Nic Dolinger of The Maryland Free Press reached out to Skinless Frank to ask him some questions.
“Power lives in capturing the imagination in new forms.” -Skinless Frank
Nic Dolinger:
Hello, Skinless Frank. I’m excited to be interviewing you today, as your art has a signature style that has developed a major following in our sphere. I’ve gotta ask you: what was the inspiration behind the “Skinless Frank" name?
Skinless Frank:
Thanks for having me, Nic. The name stems from the character of Uncle Frank in the 1980s horror film Hellraiser. I’m a big fan of the film and the 80s aesthetic in general, so I chose a pseudonym that reflects this. I find his character in the film is interesting because he’s constantly searching for more and looking for an escape from the mundane. It’s a a good analogy for how and why I became an artist.
ND:
Do you have any aesthetic or intellectual influences that have contributed to your creative process?
SF:
For the longest time I’ve had an obsession with using digital technology in new artistic ways. A big influence for me was Francisco Goya's Black Paintings series and the way he combines war imagery with fantastical elements. He creates disturbing work that reflects both the inner and outer horror of reality. I wanted to do the same for the digital realm.
ND:
Your work evokes images of martial and spiritual glory. I feel the force of will animating great men of action, vigor and excellence. Yet I also recognize the fury, damnation, ruin and despair. Would you say you’re reconciling opposing elements or that it’s all part of the same thing?
SF:
I like to play around with opposing imagery in my work while leaving things open to interpretation. My goal is to capture the viewers imagination rather than deliver a specific message. Power lives in capturing the imagination in new forms. Messaging is not what I’m about because it undermines the complex reality of consciousness. I operate on a different level.
ND:
There’s an alchemical presence in a lot of your art. How would you characterize your worldview and spiritual vision?
SF:
Symbols and motifs can be extremely powerful. I experiment with them while building up my own mythology. I like that they can be ambiguous and I wouldn't want to pollute them with my own worldview. You can find my spiritual vision in my work. To put it simply, my art is the spiritual vision.
ND:
Where do you think your sector of the art world is headed?
SF:
Digital artists like me are being massively impacted by AI, so for better or worse this will impact my own approach. Yet it's important to keep an open mind with these things and look for the opportunities rather than focus on the negative. It’s about the mythology.
ND: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me, Skinless Frank. I’m honored to have gotten a glimpse into your reality, and look forward to seeing more of your art in the future. It’s been a pleasure.
All images courtesy of Skinless Frank
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