There are thousands of “isms” in the art world. Surrealism, abstract expressionism, postmodernism, regular modernism. They all have a history, their fans and their detractors. But there’s a new “ism” that has come out. It’s called “explosionism” and it’s making quite the bang in the art world.
Explosionism is the creation of Drew Lausman, a Lakeland-based artist who’s lifelong love of fireworks has turned into a brand new art form. At its core, the new art style is both rambunctious and audacious. Lausman dips a firework or firecracker in paint, sets it off and checks out the result. And what results they are, many of which you can check out on Lausman’s Etsy page.
Explosionism, like many amazing innovations, comes from a combination of desperation and tragedy. “Part of my inspiration came from actually having little materials at the time,” Lausman told Business Insider. He goes on to explain “that when his brother passed away in 2009, he left behind a ton of firecrackers, leading Lausman to use those as a way to create art.”
From that initial step forward, Lausman has only improved in his chosen technique, with some seriously incredible results. Many of his paintings, some 200 in just four years, are incredible, beautiful and unlike what you would expect from the process. There is a level of detail and precision to the work you would not normally expect and, in that, it defies expectations.
While his art is impressive, as is his output, Lausman is quick to stress the importance of safety and experience when handling fireworks and firecrackers. “Everyone likes playing with fireworks. However, it’s not all fun and games,” he says in one of his demonstration videos. “Creating art with fireworks can be a dangerous craft .When I’m doing multiple explosions, I’ll have parts of the firecracker blow up, basically on my leg, or on my jeans. I make art with fireworks. I still blow myself away sometimes. I’ve done 200 paintings in four years.”
Explosionism is a brand new genre of art, one that proves unique and new ways of doing things can be created every day. It also stresses the importance of how art gets made, not just the end result, which goes a long way to humanizing artists, an important step for getting the pay they deserve for their labour. Another benefit of explosionism’s approach is Lausman’s output, which allows him the chance to sell his art at lower prices and reach more and more people. It may just be one of the ways of the future that we’re just learning about today!
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