Deedee Cheriel’s Rapacious Inquietude of Henry’s Wednesday Afternoon. Image courtesy of the artist.
When Thrasher magazine first came out in 1981, 16-year-old Deedee Cheriel remembers its pages rarely—if at all—containing any women. As she grew up, playing in all-girl bands in and around the 1990s riot grrrl scene, Cheriel developed her own artistic practice, which today, combines visual aspects of graffiti, feminist punk, and her own Indian heritage.“It was really cool to be part of the time when women really started making music and putting out their own records,” Cheriel tells The Creators Project. “This whole DIY culture came onto the scene. That has really infused itself within my art.”
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Recently at London’s Pure Evil Gallery, Cheriel presented 15 plus new works in Love is Always the Answer, a set of narrative driven paintings that explore contemporary emotions using an interpretation of Indian temple imagery and Hindu iconography.
Temple of the Mother by LA-based artist Deedee Cheriel. Image courtesy of the artist.
Pointing to a painting of a four-eyed cat embracing a small bird dressed in white, Cheriel says, “This is about intimacy—how people really want to connect to each other, but once given the opportunity, it’s scary. It’s the idea of turning away from something that you desperately want.”
Efflorescing in Dusk and Calm by Deedee Cheriel. Image courtesy of the artist.
Colorful animal human hybrids burst onto Cheriel’s canvases, communicating emotions like fear and love—a technique often used in Hindu storytelling. Similar characters appear throughout the exhibit, amplifying the emotionally driven meaning behind each piece.“I love Indian miniatures and the way they’re sort of organized in a frame, using animal people to tell stories that describe a sentiment or character,” explains Cheriel, who's spent time studying the iconic symbols found in Hinduism.
Deedee Cheriel’s Sargent Major General Rune. Image courtesy of the artist.
While Cheriel took note of the lack of women found in the male-dominated areas where she developed her—such as punk and graffiti—the artist has never felt the need to classify herself within any specific cultural identity.“There were all these counterculture movements happening as I was growing up,” she says. “Yet women weren’t really leading them. Women are sort of pushed to the outsides but I don’t feel like I really have to climb or push my way to the top of that. I just feel like my work sort of pushes myself into the movement and talks about those ideas without feeling overbearing.”
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As a new mother who hasn’t forgotten her punk roots, Cheriel’s work is popular with the likes of Katy Perry, Marisa Tomei and Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz.“In the 80s and 90s, I never thought that graffiti art would become part of popular culture,” says Cheriel, referring to the mainstream success of artists like Keith Haring. “It’s really cool to see traditionally outsider art becoming successful. It has a language that’s really important to be heard.”
Where there are Shadows I May Bring Light by Deedee Cheriel. Image courtesy of the artist.
Love is Always the Answer finished at London’s Pure Evil Gallery on July 3, 2016. See more of Cheriel’s work here.Related:[DTLA Warehouse Venue Evolves into Art Gallery](http:// http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/dtla-warehouse-art-gallery)Meet the Artist Making Punk-Inspired, Socially-Conscious Illustrations[What to See, Hear, and Read at Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair](http:// http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/la-art-book-fair-printed-matter)
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