Hybrid Storytelling by Trans-boundaries of Simulacre: Focused on Kenny Scharf’s Pop Art

Abstract

Pop artist Kenny Scharf has reflected american cultural contents and social message. In his works, there are fears of wars and AIDS in the late of 1970s. This his view of world inflected to virtual images filled with positive energy and humor. Thus this article explores the analysis of simulacre with trans-boundaries focusing on hybrid storytelling in his pop arts. This study aims to analyze following four elements. Firstly, his works have the characteristics hybridity bound for universe. Scharf makes use of common things, sciences, and religion and connected within universe and utilizes comic, animation, soap opera and etc. Secondly, we can see relational rebirth of common objects. Many objects in his works, they go forth from independent thing to interactive relationships. Thirdly, double functions of pop arts such as enjoyment and criticism which is one of main purposes in pop art. Finally, artist’s ontological behavior from dystopia to utopia. This is represented by spacial exhibition based on artitist’s imagination. In the third chapter, these four characteristics have explained with pop arts relevant to each categories. Recently various simulacres have been represented in many areas due to digital technology. Advanced reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality will be showed in anot only costumers’ technological experiences in exhibitions but also fine art itself. Thus we need to be interested in an artistic representation of technological simulacre in modern society. This article considers trans-boundaries of simulacre and expects hybrid visual images in art.