Kim Jones

1. What got him into the arts as a career choice?
2. Why is he so fascinated with the alter ego?
3. Does he incorporate humans into all of his work?

It’s weird seeing an artist whose main focus is own his alter ego called mudman because just the other day a student did his identity piece on his alter ego. Funny, I’ve never even thought of my own alter ego, I’ve never even thought or knew or believed I had one. Who knows, maybe everyone does have one.

So, it’s pretty wicked that he uses himself as the artform, the final product. Talk about a dedicated artist. HE covers himself with mud and imposes physical strain on himself, and all for the cause of art. Obsession or dedication? I think a little of both. But when you consider his past, the polio and time spent in Vietnam, mudman becomes to make a little more sense, become more clear. These two times in his life are a combination that make up mudman. Everyone who knows anything about the Vietnam war knows it was one of Americas worst wars, losing a lot of soldiers. The soldiers that did live were to live hard, stressful lives after, dealing with horrible nightmares and memories of the war.

It’s also impressive how he becomes mudman for a whole day and walks around in urban areas. This provides as an interesting contrast between materials, nature vs. urban. What a contrast. Also, considering his past, mudman begins to become an appropriate alter ego for Jones. That is quite a switch from the military to an artist. Talk about a transformation.

I really am not aware about his choosing as an artist straight out of the military and he is so fascinated with his alter ego because as a child, he was coped up in the house due to polio and the vivid growth of his lonely imagination combined with future traumatizing experiences later combined to give him mudman. And he actually started as a painter then got into sculpture but rather than traditional sculptures he chose to use his body.

1. What is his purpose in walking around public as mudman, does it have a meaning?
2. Why does he choose to put his body through some form of suffering and abuse?
3. Why exactly did he switch from becoming a painter to a sculptor?