QUINN MCCALLION-BOLEN

BFA - DRAWING

As an aspiring illustrator, I have spent the past several years of my drawing practice creating and studying comics to develop my skills in visual storytelling. I admire artforms that can be both entertaining and meaningful, and to these ends I have dedicated much study to anatomy, perspective, composition, and other important elements of visual storytelling . I am interested in stories that are introspective; stories that explore a character’s mental states and inner turmoil. Primarily I work with a digital tablet and computer software.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Alienation, anxiety, and depression are an overwhelming issue for today’s young adults and I address these themes in the short horror comic The Metamorphosis. For many living with mental illness, existential fears manifest not just as a psychological anguish but a physical pain. Inspired by classic body-horror films such as The Thing, the central character in this story is a young man whose negative emotions surface in the form of grotesque appendages that erupt from his body during times of stress. Not only is the spider-like appearance visually repulsive, the limbs surround and protect the body to symbolise the withdrawal, escapism, and isolation many with depression and anxiety experience. The convenience store setting speaks to the fear of public spaces and burying one’s unease in consumerism and escapism. Oftentimes when I am unsettled I will find myself filling the void by visiting the local 7-11, distracting myself from troubling thoughts by mulling over trivial decisions such as which soda or chips to buy. 

The anxiety illustrated by the horrific transformation in The Metamorphosis is an expression of the helplessness I felt when I began to realize the larger implications of my little vice; I had become trapped in several harmful patterns in my life due to unresolved inner conflicts and poor coping mechanisms. The final panel reveals that the transformation is in truth only a reflection of the protagonist’s mental state, it is a personal hell that he faces alone, the monstrous self image perhaps indicating a hint of self-hatred and resentment. Aesthetically I was inspired by Junji Ito’s horror anthology manga, I felt a deep connection between my subject matter and the dramatic high contrast black and white artwork. I believe that tackling these themes with a pop-horror aesthetic is an exciting approach to the otherwise touchy subject matter, ultimately culminating in a cathartic and engaging experience for readers like the ones I have had with horror stories myself.