Picture of the Week: Perseverance by TYP
December 4, 2021
TYP (Troy Murray) is a multidisciplinary artist based in both metro Detroit and Los Angeles. His work typically combines painting with fabrication and 3-dimensional elements. TYP specializes in “alternative canvas,” using “3-dimensional objects to create his substrate and paints subjects that correlate with them,” bringing stories to life in a unique way. Art is not only a creative outlet for him, but also a means through which he can give back and make an impact on the world: “whether it’s through teaching art to children in countries across the globe, or donating a portion of the proceeds from his work to the Premier foundation based out of Greenville, SC.”
Perseverance is part of TYP’s series EXPOSED. Each work in the series is named after a spiritual principle. EXPOSED as a series is a reflection on a period of his life when he was honest with his loved ones about his inner mental struggles and when he became honest with himself about his drug and alcohol addiction; Once TYP was honest about his inner struggles, he was able to make changes in his life and get sober. Moreover, he grew to love and to be proud of his authentic self.
Perseverance features an acrylic portrait of an Asian female subject. Although TYP created this portrait a few years before the pandemic, perhaps the representation of a subject of Asian descent can relate to the perseverance of the Asian American community as well, particularly with the increase of Asian hate in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lower portion of the portrait exchanges acrylic for a layer of flowers situated in the shape of the subject’s neck and chest. Her head is tilted upward, which may connect with how perseverance is often associated with the phrase “chin up” or “head up” amid adversity. Flowers are often admired for their beauty and growth. The transition from acrylic to flowers in the portrait illustrates the journey of perseverance; By persevering through our darkest seasons, we can exude that same growth and beauty within ourselves.
Written by Angela Athnasios
Sources: TYP, typcollection.com