Southern California artist Chet Zar is a master of giving our fears a face. For the last ten years he has relentlessly produced images of ghastly creatures with names such as Corpse Licker and Spiderface and features to match. His designs are pure monsters. They embody the word’s ancient Latin origin, monstrum, meaning abberant or unnatural. Chet’s works, though dark, are not straightforward presentations of evil. Grimacing against backdrops of apocalyptic colored skies and rocky landscapes, each monster has a personality ranging from charming to pitiable.
They match our stares with their own outward facing penetrating regards as if to say we are the unfortunate ones. Being a monster is fun. It is evident from his work that there is nothing Chet enjoys more than making monsters. He is an accomplished oil painter, sculptor, and special effects artist and his work in every medium explores the haunting and bizarre monsters that populate his mind. Chet paused his efforts in his home studio to discuss his new show Ego Death, the concept of the artist as shaman, and what drives him to create.
interview by : Dahlia Jane
read the feature in the October/November 2013 Issue
