Gallery

Title: La La La...
Artists: Brian Martinez, Igor Neminov, Craig Shimahara
Company: Shimahara Illustration

The city of Los Angeles propagates the myth of its own aspirational promise with cult-like fervor showcasing both spectacular virtuosity and profound social myopia - "at once its glory and its menace." LA is the urban sing-song of denial with fully clenched eyes and muffled ears. Thus, an illustration of homeless architecture which deploys the same artistic tools and idealism as found within the very ecology it observes satirizes the insidious ubiquity of the illusion (replete with yellow dress, glowing lamppost, magic-hour LA skyline, etc.) and asks viewers to consider their place on the assembly line of fantasy and the possible sequela.

"Here's to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem.
Here's to the hearts that ache. Here's to the mess we make."
Craig Shimahara 2017