MERGING BODIES
CHRISTOPHE SZKUDLAREK & MICCA OKADA
For French illustrator Christophe Szkudlarek, social relationships and strange encounters are the wells from which he draws artistic inspiration. Having graduated from the School of Applied Arts in Paris, he spent time working as a textile designer for fashion and furniture brands. “I am therefore very sensitive to decorative arts, ornamental motifs and the confrontation of colours and materials,” he explains. He is also strongly influenced by music, which, he adds, “makes my imagination vibrate in a very direct way.” .
NEST | 2021
OFFERED | 2021
There’s a strong sense of fusion in his work; bodies overlap, joining each other both physically but also through textures and prints that seem to absorb into one another. It speaks to a homosexual poetics; the nude male figure being a recurring theme. “My erotic visuals speak of the relationship between two, of desire, love and sex, of attraction between two things, of otherness,” he told us. As a textile designer, Christophe enjoys using florence and lace patterns in his work, inspired by oriental fabrics or ‘toiles de jouy’. “I like to dress and make my characters live within these decorative elements,” he added.
Photography, particularly nude, is often the starting point for Christophe, who uses sensual imagery for reference. Working mostly digitally, he produces his work digitally before screen printing his images on paper or wood or reproducing them with laser engraving or digital printing. “I usually engrave my drawings on paper by laser engraving, which I release in limited series,” he told Cluster, “I like the idea of fixing a scene, pyro engraving for example is akin to a tattoo on the skin.”.
ECLIPSE | 2020
A KISS | 2020
Through Cluster, Christophe hopes to gain visibility and grow confidence through collective mentoring. “I work alone, so it’s very important for me to be part of a creative community,” he added. Currently, his work is on exhibit in Rossocinabro Gallery, a contemporary space in Rome.
Mineral #2 | 2019
Japanese illustrator Micca Okada graduated from the Fine Arts department of Kyoto Seika University, and went on to study illustration. She has spent the last few years expanding her creative field as a freelance illustrator through a broad range of commercial works from magazines to collaborations with fashion brands with clients like Veuve Clicquot Japan and Max Mara.
Sand #1 | 2019
Like Christophe, Micca has a strong affinity with textiles, many of her illustrations paying homage to fashion illustration; her characters are draped in flowing fabrics and colourful prints – bold stripes, florals, ruffs and cuffs can all be found in her work. These rich and vibrant textures, contrasted with the fine, delicate line work creates a stark juxtaposition between the wearer and the garment that stirs the imagination. She shares the theme of unity, as her protagonists overlap, their clothes coalesce and their hair entangles them together as one.
Others #2 | 2019
Mineral #4
Micca mainly works with watercolour and pen, though often experiments with unconventional materials like charcoal and sand in order to add texture. Her work is currently being exhibited across four small venues in Kyoto, a coordinated solo show entitled "Chiten".
The rich materiality of prints and fabrics used by both Christoph and Micca adds to the sensuality of their work. As bodies collapse, fold and fuse with one another, each of these artists tactically demonstrate the mechanisms of desire.
Work by both Christophe Szkudlarek & Micca Okada can be viewed on the Cluster Illustration platform
and purchased through our Cluster Illustration Online Shop.
Thank you for reading,
Stephanie Gavan & Cluster Team.