Mark Wilson – the artist known as The Dead – has a truly unique style to his art and is a presence that can only be described as terrifying, performative, evocative and funny in one package of ground beef.
In a digital art market where supply is limitless, the Indiana-based artist stands out from the crowd for his ability to capture attention by poking fun at the NFT space and showing both humor and sadness in his work.
The author of five books, he has a passion for not only visual art, but stream-of-consciousness writing with the people he loves most. He originally made his first NFT on March 26, 2021 at the Foundation after a random account on X arrived because Wilson made a comic campaign poster for comedian Eric Andre that went viral.
“This guy reached out and said, ‘Hey, I have a foundation invitation. Would you like to cook a piece over there?' I said I don't know what Menting is. I don't know what a foundation is. I have no clue what any of these bad things are,” explains Diewithmostlikes.
“He said it might be a good way for your digital art, so I said, ‘Oh, fuck you, man. It's not like I'm not doing anything now. It's getting two likes on Instagram from porn bots. So, whatever it is, I'll pick something up, and maybe something I can finally sell as an artist — that would be cool.'”
It was a relatively slow start, but consistency and persistence stood him in good stead, and he often received accolades from other notable artists such as OSF.
Now that he's knocking on the door of digital art stardom, the people he loves the most still haven't gotten to where he finds himself.
“I still really can't wrap my head around what's going on. I thought I would die alone doing something I hated. It's great to be a part of this kind of movement with all these crazy artists who are on this crazy path and constantly leveling up. It's so wild,” he says.
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ToggleInteresting and difficult name origin
How did the name of the deceased come to be with the most loved ones? Well, in classic “Death” fashion, there's humor and underlying meaning.
“I've got the most common name to date, Mark Wilson. When I ask for apartments, people think it's a scammer's name because Mark Wilson is a very common name here in the States. They do a background check and think I'm a fake.
“I'm fine with my name… but they go in with the people they love the most, and it's funny because it's actually a really hard name to say. During an interview, many people ask me what my name is. It's a long and unpleasant name to say, but I think I'll take comfort in it. Being uncomfortable, if you will, or not being able to decide what to say is great.
The name pokes fun at a world where we look for likes on social media for a dopamine hit, which Wilson points out is a marketing presence.
“It's sad about our marketing existence in general and how sad and depressing it can be in many ways. But also the beauty of it, frankly, is that none of us would be here; we wouldn't be talking here without Twitter. Certainly, my art wouldn't do what it does, or anyone without a platform.” I can't influence people.
Finding history in specific places
Looking at society and its idiosyncrasies is a great inspiration, and his work often conveys overt or sometimes subtle messages that make collectors pause and think.
Of course, ever the witty man with a dry sense of humor, the Dead wear an over-the-top window dressing and tie a bow around him.
“I say there are stories in very special places. “There is a story in the sorry ass of anyone who walks through the forts of this country,” he says. “It's in these squishy little swirls, crusts and bruises that I thrive and love to live.”
“This lens on life and humanity is often exaggerated… If you look a little deeper into my pieces, they are definitely documentary but superficially dramatic.
Good meat! Majestic Immersive
A tsunami of crypto X accounts has spawned a series of flesh art posting “gm”.
“Good Meat first came from a place of utter ridicule, which I feel is where a lot of my art comes from. It's satire; it's mockery; it's humor. I was so angry at the marketing of everybody saying ‘Jim,' nothing else to say. GM was coffee.” with a cup, and that was it. Then you just see gm, gm, gm, gm. It's like, ‘What are we all doing here? This is crazy, man,'” Wilson says.
“So, I came up with a good meat to tease that, and I was posting art with the art at first, and then it turned into now. I'm going to post pictures of meat now because that's appropriate for the tired type of exchange. A boring morning exchange in which we all participate.
“It's like there's a big pile of rotting flesh here. Enjoy it or not. It's all good. But it's funny because now people will bring back good meat or have their own good meat inspired post and it's really cool. I love that meat is polluting the place in some capacity.
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Quick-fire question and answer
Effects
“Actually I don't have a ton, and most of it is because I have no artistic background. I would actually say that, growing up, most of my influence was actually in the books that I read. Like Irvine Welsh, Haruki Murakami, Michel Houellebecq and, of course, Hunter S. People like Thompson. All those I love to live are cruel.
I definitely have to mention the incredible illustrator Ralph Steadman. When I walked into this place someone said, ‘Your stuff reminds me of Ralph Steadman,' and I thought that was incredible.
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Personal style of art
“I think one word I would use is ‘relentless.' The style itself is funny; I never took an art class in high school and was told it was enough. That's my art story. I didn't study art. I had more or less muddled my way into doing these things. It's been about 20,000 hours on my iPad and working on canvas and acrylics in my basement.
It's just a shame that I feel like I have to get out, otherwise it's robbing me inside, so ‘unruly' and ‘unbending', I guess are the two words I use. There is almost a psychotic search and urgency to do what I want to tell people.
Which hot NFT artists should we pay attention to?
Xer0x — “In a lot of ways I feel like I'm a massive sleeper. That's a man obsessed with his craft, and he makes the most profound, most personal, true artistic achievements.
Alien Queen – “Alien Queen is the chat, but she may not be the one to come and go.
James Bloom — “He's a true blockchain artist. The dude is making these super technical and really rad pieces that change based on dynamic interactions.
Famous collector
“I have to give a big shout out to SuperRare Zach. He was very nice and cool, and after this crazy nonsensical Twitter campaign I got him on Super Rare. In order to be accepted into SuperRare, they sent me a tweet saying that I had just submitted my application video.
“I'm the one who brings up how Stella got back into the groove while doing DMT and dressed as Hellboy or something. It was like a crazy tweet, and I was just like, ‘This is nuts. You're on.' I've already been putting in work and stuff, but I'll say Zach is awesome.
Favorite NFT in your wallet
“Oh man, I have to say Pindar van Arman this dope ass quantum portrait of me is pretty special. Really, my god, he's rad. That's probably my favorite piece. It's a dope-ass piece, and he was really cool doing it. He didn't ask; He alone created it,” he said.
What do you listen to when you create art?
“I love music. I mean, the nerdy part of me rooting for Nickelback and Creed and all those other stupid bands. But really, I listen to a shit ton of doom metal and death metal. Bands like Bongripper, Gate Creeper and Withered. Slow, brutal and brutal. Anything is the only way you can describe it.
Links:
X: twitter.com/toadswiback
website:
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Greg Oxford
Greg Oakford is co-founder of NFT Fest Australia. A former marketing and communications professional in the world of sports, Greg now focuses on content creation and consulting at Web3. He is an avid NFT collector and hosts a weekly podcast covering all things NFTs.
Follow the author @GregOakford
