Michael C Hsiung is characterized by: large mustache (one of the few remaining facially hairy Asians surviving today) with all of the species capable of reaching one ton or more in weight; herbivorous diet; and a thin yellow protective skin, 1.5-5 cm thick, formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure; and a relatively small brain for a mammal of his size (400-600g). . Michael is prized for its mustache, sometimes his art. Not a true mustache, it is made of thickly matted hair that grows from the skull without skeletal support. Michael has acute hearing and sense of smell, but poor eyesight over any distance. Michael will probably live to be about 50 years old or more.
In my work, I illustrate my own imaginative world, a place where creatures of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and lullabies, which are apart of our childhood and adult culture, interact - be it warring or not.
My work addresses gender roles/gender assignment given to mermen, the fragility of unicorn/panda dynamics, domestic violence between centaurs and unitaurs and the underlying threads of violence and danger that underpin all other-worldly societies.
These themes are often combined with humor commonly used by those in dysfunctional relationships. My drawings, primarily white and black, feature the color red and sometimes green because I have limited abilities to establish a dream-like surreal quality or suggest any notions of purity and safety that would unify any art. The titles provide clues to content and interpretation, but they are generally misleading.
Self Interview Questions & Answers
Q. Who wins the war-Unicorns or Pandas?
A. Well, the pandas are still here.
Q. What is a unitaur and why were they hunted?
A. The unitaurs were peaceful creatures who enjoyed nature and friendship. They grew horns like unicorns. The warish centaurs didn't like that they were different. They were all destroyed
Q. Why do you draw some many pictures of Hitler?
A. Because he looks like Charlie Chalpan
Q. Why does your art look like a retarded 8 year old did them?
A. In fact, you are correct. I have a retarded 8 year old boy living with me. I give him an oreo cookie everytime he draws me a picture.
Q. How did that guy lose his arms?
A. I'm not sure but look at all the things he can do.
Q. Why do all the animals in your drawings die?
A. Material weakness on my part.
Q. Why is it that I can find a mistake in every picture?
A. I have no depth perceptions; the same reason I can't drive well.
Q. What if I like your drawings?
A. Then you are probably one of the following:
a) A neo Nazi
b) severely suffering from head trauma
c) legally blind
Please contact me we have lots in common
This interview was conducted in my own brain to myself with no talking.
2008 Shows
January 2008, Spring of comic strips show and book BrusselsApril 5th, 12x36 A Local Lens, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seoul, Korea
April 26, 2008, Carmichael Gallery , Group Show featuring Andrew Pommier, Herakut, Irina Troitskaya, Karen Preston, Mel Kadel, Michael Hsiung, Parskid
May 10, 2008, Gallery Revisited , Internal Environments Group Show 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Freelance Projects
2008, LA Records Contributing Illustration2008, Oxford American Magazine, Illustration
March 2008, The Henry Clay People, 7 inch, Working Part Time.
June 2007, Freelance Artist, Enjoi Skateboards, Pro Model Graphics.
June 2007, Animator/Artist, Bob Industries for Sprint “Dreams†Commercial directed by Jonathon Dayton and Valerie Faris
June 2007, Contributing Designs, Willis Clothing and ISM Magazine, Costa Mesa, CA
May 2007 Freelance Graphic Designer/Artist, Promotional T-Shirts for Jupiterimages.com, Pasadena, CA
March 2007 Freelance Graphic Artist, SAATCHI & SAATCHI - IDEAS COMPANY for Dr. Marten’s Defy FREEDM shoes, United Kingdom, for release in August 2008
March 2007 Illustrator, T-shirt, Poster, and Pins, for Division Day, Los Angeles, CA
February 2007 Freelance Illustrator, CD Cover for Davin Givhan, Los Angeles, CA
February 2007, Freelance Illustrator, CD Cover for Touch Committee, San Francisco, CA
2007 Illustration, Poster for The Happy Hollows, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Contributing Illustrator, Daytrotter.com, Chicago, IL
Check out my website at www.michaelchsiung.com to see more of my drawings (as if I were drawing with two left hands)...