Untitled 2010

This monochrome print of a skeleton wielding a scythe and holding a goblet, is by Billy Childish. The earthy red-brown ink gives it a medieval woodcut vibe, like something you'd find illustrating a cautionary tale. The lines are stark and direct, a sense of immediacy, like he just grabbed a tool and went at it without a lot of fuss. And yet, look at the figure, see how the ribcage is just a few simple lines, but somehow they still give you the feeling of bones beneath skin. There’s a crude elegance to it, a directness that speaks to a certain kind of punk ethos that values expression over perfection. Childish's work, like that of his contemporary, Peter Doig, uses a limited palette. Both are interested in narrative, yet open-ended. The lack of precision makes you think about what's been left out, the gaps in the story. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions we ask ourselves.