The artwork “Nine Indo Nostril Pickineers” was created by Robert Williams in 1993. It is a work that falls under the Lowbrow Art movement, a genre of art that often incorporates elements from pop culture and underground comix with a sense of contravention to the standards of the conventional fine arts scene. The piece is classified within the figurative genre, which means it represents forms that are recognizably derived from life.
Upon examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by an intense and eclectic array of images, colors, and themes. In a dreamlike juxtaposition, various scenes converge in a single canvas creating a visual narrative that departs from conventional aesthetic norms. The artwork does not shy away from oddities and grotesqueries that are hallmarks of the Lowbrow movement.
At the forefront, we encounter a seemingly distorted portrait of a man whose elongated arm and oversized hand are positioned as if picking his nose, reiterating the title’s reference to “Nostril Pickineers.” The character is seated behind a framed space that could be interpreted as a window, pondering under a night sky that appears in the top left corner, featuring a moonlit scene.
In the top right corner, a collage of cartoonish and graffiti-like images bursts forward, contrasting the somber tones of the other elements. Below these animated figures, a desolate landscape stretches out toward ruins that suggest an ancient or post-apocalyptic scene. The juxtaposition of these disparate images creates a chaotic and surreal atmosphere which seeks to challenge traditional art forms and appeal to a raw, visceral viewer response.
Each quadrant of the artwork seems to tell a distinct story, yet they are all unified by the artist’s vibrant palette and detailed brushwork, which is rich with symbols and subversive iconography. The piece does not easily lend itself to a single interpretation, inviting the viewer to find personal meaning in its unconventional visual language.
