Lyrics from extreme punk metal band Scald’s song Non Selective say, “Necessary agony to reveal hidden creativity. Dig deeper into the bleak recesses of the mind. Sicken the selective eyes. Fuck the corroding minds.”  These words could easily apply to Scald drummer Paul McCarroll’s grotesque digital paintings.  Working in Northern Ireland, Paul’s disturbing images seem drawn out of a hellish oblivion.  Contorted bodies with ghastly expressions, discolored flesh and seeping wounds confront the viewer with primal anguish.  Themes of religious iconography, dissection and fecundity repeatedly appear in alarming contexts. His work feels simultaneously old and fresh. I was dying to know more about the twisted mind behind the hardcore art, so I was thrilled that Paul took the time to answer some questions.

What do you hope to accomplish or express through your art?

Never really thought about what I want to accomplish, it’s more of a need to produce. It would of course be nice if I could make a living from it so I could spend more time producing art. Expression? Hard to sum that up, I go off in many directions but I guess it’s generally about the negative aspects of existence. I’m not without humour but I’m not inspired to make happy or whimsical art.

Why do you paint digitally instead of traditional paint on canvas?

I used to use paint and I still make analogue parts for digital work, in fact I hope to be working around 50/ 50 paint and digital soon.
 Working digitally helps in many ways, especially when doing mostly commission for cd’s and things.  It’s easier to change work and to instantly communicate the work, I don’t need tons of materials, it doesn’t need to be photographed and I can drop in and out of it quickly. It does have a stigma though, it’s the new outsider art.

 

What do you like about the dark and macabre aesthetic?

I can’t actually answer that, isn’t that strange? I’ve always liked the darker side of things, never contemplated why.

Are you trying to shock the viewer?

Occasionally, shock is a good tool to bang home a message, but not always in a sick way, sometimes just putting things in the wrong context can mess with peoples heads.

The Candidate caught my eye.  What can you tell me about that piece?



It’s about politics and self interest.

Do you prefer collaborative, commissioned projects or those you make for yourself?

It depends, generally I’d say my own personal work as I can just go in any direction I want without needing to keep within any relevant agenda. But sometimes with commissioned work I get almost total freedom and I’m able to develop work that needs to be relevant to the client but I can easily work in my own perspective. Sometimes it’s jut a great learning aid to be faced with problems that clients can give you.

Whose work do you admire?

Many, many artists, too many. But I’d say top of the list is Zdzisław Beksiński.

How do you celebrate Halloween?

I don’t. I don’t care to be told when to celebrate this or that or how or why. I’m a real fucking stick in the mud aren’t I? haha.

Thank you so much to Paul for answering my questions!  Paul’s work absolutely embodies the punk spirit. To see more visit his website.  A 170 page hardcover book of Paul’s art entitled, Animus Unhinged, is available here.