LIQUID TELEVISION

Typically, when I get a list of show I am doing for the year, I try to quickly plan out, or at least brainstorm what I will do for each one. There are times (more as of recently), when a concept or idea is too abstract, and it isn’t cohesive with the theme. This was the case with my contribution to Gallery1988’s ‘I Want My MTV’, a group exhibition dedicated to celebrating the programming of the legendary station.

The bottle which would appear during the introduction to MTV's 'Liquid Television'.

 

As I alluded to above, this piece went through a few changes. Initially I was going to portray either George Michael, or Madonna, but as I looked over the prompt, I realized this was more about the station’s original content, than their musical offerings. Then I toyed with doing something based on the channel’s short lived series ‘The Maxx’, by Sam Keith , a comic originally published by Image Comics. Discouraged with that development, I then turned to Peter Chung’s dystopian animated series turned film, ‘Aeon Flux’. I however ran into a similar issue which really wasn’t surprising. I typically like to try to make sure that whatever I am depicting is recognizable. With an actual person, that is easier to tackle (in my personal opinion), however with an animated image…it starts to skirt a legal issue if it’s ‘too close’ to the original, which I understand. It’s a delicate balance, and one I didn’t feel like undertaking. I was also lacking inspiration within the material itself. Nothing resonated with me from either of the two series, and I recall enjoying them immensely when they originally aired. I then thought for a moment, and realized that, instead of depicting ‘Aeon Flux’ or ‘The Maxx’, I could represent both, which (I believe), got their start on another show called ‘Liquid Television’.

 

Sketch of the bottle from the show's intro. 

During this era of the early 90’s there was an underground animation festival that was known as ‘Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festival of Animation’. It was originally an offshoot of another festival that started back in the late 1970’s, and featured shorts that coincided alongside other tours including the X Games, ComicCon, and Vans Warped Tour. The festival featured animated shorts that launched many careers, and even entire franchises (like ‘South Park’). MTV sought to capitalize on this fringe community of animators, and presented them with the opportunity to showcase their talents on their ‘Liquid Television’ program. 

 

Color design for acrylic, glow in the dark keychain with cut-lines.

  

‘Liquid Television’, like the ‘Twisted Festival…’, also featured many creations that are now full fledged intellectual properties, like Mike Judge’s ‘Beavis & Butthead’/‘Office Space’, and Chung’s ‘Aeon Flux’. The animation showcase was created by Japhet Asher, who went on to work on the ‘Aeon Flux’ spin-off series alongside it’s creator Peter Chung. Asher was also featured heavily in both productions, doing voice work, as well as creative directing. The show featured music videos, puppets, and a lot of experimental animation when it premiered in June of 1991. It always opened the same, with a video being liquified into ‘bubbles’, all of which would coalesce into a large bottle that would sort of rattle into place. This bottle also sat on an undulating floor that had televisions swimming within it, indicated by their antennae like a shark’s fin. It was a late night show, and they knew their audience.

 

Illustration with more details added to interior. 

I fixated upon the bottle which to me was the most iconic and (consistently) recognizable element of the show. I decided to recreate the bottle, but try to do something more a bit more interesting with it. After talking with a peer (thanks Kimber!), I decided I wanted to make a physical product for this piece instead of a typical flat print. I looked at my options and checked out some different vendors. After doing some research, and determining what was possible, I realized that while I have done enamel pins, cards, mugs, and more, I have yet to make a keychain. I went to review the vendors available and narrowed it down to one (VOGRACE) that was offering several attractive options. While I had never used them before, they did have decent reviews, so I decided to order a prototype of three keychains.

 

Final illustration image 1/4.

I should note here while it was initially a smooth process, I did have to go back to the original image I had already started to develop and do some editing to make it work as a keychain.  It was a little tedious, and I did have to resend my image file (on May 13^th, 2025), because my linework was too light to read once printed. I’m sure this delayed the process, as I placed my order on May 2^nd, 2025, and didn’t receive them until June 3^rd, 2025. The good news is they arrived, and sort of exceeded my expectations…or maybe I just didn’t have any expectations…I’m not sure.

 

Final illustration image 2/4.

Now with the delay in mind from above, I began to panic as I wasn’t entirely sure these prototypes would arrive in time for the show, let alone in time for me to inspect them, to order for the show. So, I started to flesh out the original image, and expanded upon it, by adding recognizable illustrations from the shorts inside the bubbles that were floating in the bottle. It took some time, and if I had more reference material, I would’ve added even more imagery to the illustration. The problem was with the show being made before the digital revolution, much of the archival footage is of poor quality. I also had to proof the image twice before finalizing it, and even then it really could’ve used a third round. I ironically finished the illustration right about the same time the prototype keychains arrived. Given that both turned out so well, I determined (along with the gallery’s consent) it would be better to offer them as a package deal. 

 

Final illustration image 3/4.

 

I then proceeded to order another fifty of the keychains on June 5^th, 2025 after another round of emails regarding image files with the vendor (which was once again my fault). I also ordered a set of prints to have on hand in case any of these actually sell.

 

Final illustration image 4/4.

I started the piece on April 24^th, 2025, and finished it on June 5^th, 2025. I spent approximately, forty eight (48) hours, and two (2) minutes working on the image, with forty-five (45), hours, and thirty-two (32) minutes of that time being in Procreate. The remaining hours were divided between Adobe Illustrator (one hour and thirty minutes), and Adobe Photoshop (about an hour), editing.

 

Final 10" x 10" image on white pearl linen. 

The 10” x 10” image (printed on white pearl linen, thank you SGX), was made for Gallery1988’s ‘I Want My MTV’, featuring a collection of artists paying homage to the days when MTV ruled the dial which opened July 15th, 2025. At this time the prints are exclusively available via the gallery, so please check their website for all remaining works related to the show including mine.

2" acrylic, glow in the dark keychain/charm. 1/2

For more information, or to see a catalog of my other work, please visit my online store here.

 

2" acrylic, glow in the dark keychain/charm. 2/2

You can also find me on various social media platforms below doing a multitude of other artistic things that include hand lettering, and the occasional sculpting, crafting or painting.

 

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