MEAR ONE: Metaphysical Surrealism
Known for his distinctive approach to graffiti and mural art, MEAR ONE, born in Santa Cruz, California, has been pioneering the street art scene in Los Angeles since the mid-1980s. He has gained international recognition for his public works that often blend elements of social and political commentary with metaphysical and mythological themes.
Fueled by his early days of tagging and an eclectic upbringing surrounded by books on mysticism, astrology, mythology, and ancient cultures, MEAR ONE's work is a fusion of his radical perspective and unorthodox insights. Over the years, he has demonstrated a commitment to peeling back the layers of perceived reality, continually pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms through his art.
His journey has evolved from creating graffiti art in the streets to thought-provoking large-scale narratives on canvas, questioning authority, and exposing hidden truths. His newest body of work, "Metaphysical Surrealism," is a deep dive into suppressed knowledge and global mythologies. Inspired by five years of field research across North America's Southwest and Great Basin deserts, this series explores archaic rock wall art and architecture, unearthing ancient narratives, and challenging the conventional understanding of our history.
"Metaphysical Surrealism" breathes life into ancient graffiti and mythical tales, drawing parallels with current theories such as the Younger Dryas hypothesis. MEAR ONE believes these narratives of ancient, advanced societies, cycles of cataclysmic destruction and rebirth have been concealed from us, a conspiracy he intends to expose through his newest works.
These works offer a journey into humanity's earliest creations, intertwined with alchemical, astrological, and magical elements. They suggest a shared creation myth far different from what we have been taught, aiming to uncover the obscured link between our hidden past and the authoritarians' manipulation of history.