AstrTronaught 2017

David Michael Hinnebusch made AstrTronaught with what looks like mixed media collage. There’s a real playful process at work here, a kind of childlike abandon with colour and mark making. Looking closely, I see how the surface has a distinct texture from the layering of materials. Collage elements create a patterned background, punctuated by bold strokes of paint. The colours are vibrant, clashing and working in concert, creating an emotional resonance that feels both energetic and a little chaotic. That central figure, lightly sketched over the collage, has a vulnerable quality. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s graffiti-like marks, where process and gesture become the primary language. There’s a sense of freedom in this work, where Hinnebusch seems to be embracing chance and improvisation. This approach reminds me of the work of outsider artists, such as Bill Traylor, who also used simple materials and direct gestures to create powerful, imaginative worlds.