Each of our five senses allow us to experience our reality through many mediums, usually in combination with each other. One artist—Travis Trium Perfectum—understands that perfectly and takes advantage of this fact in numerous ways across his vivid displays of artistic endeavors. These displays are truly unique to his style and challenge the senses of his audience to unusual degrees.
Like most creatives, art has been on Perfectum’s mind since an early age, allowing him plenty of time to hone his talent towards his chosen path.
Perfectum said:
“When I was a child… I had an overactive imagination, and that inevitably led me to creative outlets. Most kids have them, but the world beats that out of you… Luckily, my mother was always very supportive of what I did… I always felt like the ultimate freedom has always been through art. You can say and do whatever you want within that outlet. You will affect people for better or worse, and I think I enjoy that.“
Ain’t that the truth?
“Beyond the fulfillment I get out of capturing a fleeting moment or emotion, the reaction to my work always seems to entertain me… It’s as normal as eating and sleeping for me, and it has to occur or I will be absolutely miserable. I was always involved in something creative, whether that be fine art, film, music, poetry, etc… It’s interesting when I get asked these questions because… it forces me to view things the way much of the world does. I guess I just don’t do that much at all. I’ve always had an intense maniacal drive. There’s something obsessive, genuine, and sincere in what I do, and I’m fortunate that people seem to want to experience that.”
Perfectum’s art expands far from just pictures on a wall. His technicolor landscapes are gateways, taking us to places meant to make us question… Well, “us”!
Perfectum explained:
“I think, ultimately, I am translating the human condition in a more surreal manner. It can be bleak, dreary, yet beautifully sincere. I like dichotomy and contrast. So I savor playing with people’s comforts and trying to dismantle them in an alluring way. I want the viewer to know they are not safe within my work. Much like walking down a path reluctantly. There’s part of you that doesn’t want to continue on, but human curiosity will always take control. I like exploiting our very nature, it’s almost a form of sadism. It illuminates trauma and blasphemy with the hellscapes of fever dreams… Unlocking a door in the viewer that they have kept shut or didn’t know they had.”
“But Giallo,” you say, “What about all that talk about senses earlier?”
Oh yeah, I did mention a thing or two about that, didn’t I? I’ll let Perfectum elaborate:
“I think viewing artwork is great, but for me, I like the idea of my work being more of an experience… With multiple mediums at play waking various senses, and expanding my fine art to video, musical compositions, and spoken word poetry; it truly is an encircling presentation. I take a lot of pride in guiding the viewer deeper into my world and exhibitions allow me to do that uncompromised.”
Due to the multi-faceted approach to his work, Perfectum has been dubbed a “visual poet.”
Perfectum said:
“I think the combination of mediums that I smear makes me very hard to categorize, and I’m proud of that. It means I’m treading some new ground at times. With poetry being the entry point of my work, especially early on, I loved to visually translate my writings into photography initially. To make writing more a tangible art piece and that, like everything else I touch, has evolved.
Moving to drawing, I have pulled my poetry and writings along into my work as well. I still feel my writings feed my visual art and… my visual art will inspire me to write. In a weird way, I think poetry needs to become a more visual medium for it to continue onward, and I may be filling in a small step in the evolution of sorts. So, the term ‘visual poet’ seems to represent what I do as well as anything ever has.”
If you can’t already tell, Perfectum’s art has a macabre, almost nightmarish quality to it. Turns out, that may be less intentional than you may think.
“I think I’m almost immune to even noticing that about my work anymore. When I sit down to create, that seems to be what comes out, but what I do is symbolic and metaphoric. I like to control people’s beliefs and comforts, make them look at them from a different angle. It’s almost like re-introducing them to themselves and sometimes they don’t like what they see. Many take the approach of being positive all the time and grant that some type of standard or merit. I don’t find that helpful, and I definitely don’t find it realistic or appealing.
To me, you have to be acquainted with the misery and suffering portions of the human condition to truly value anything positive from this existence. A lot of people see my work as dark and negative at a glance, but the people who look deeper see a lot of beauty in what I create. Acknowledging how we’re all bound to this life, the good and the bad. I like to underline and magnify what most do not care to speak about is a gap I think I am filling, in my own way, of course. If you’re honest with yourself and this life, you’ll be able to see sincerity in what I do. I’ve had people literally moved to tears in front of my work, and I’ve had people repulsed by it. I value both.”
For those of you enticed by Perfectum’s work, you’re in luck! He’s putting on his fifth solo exhibition this December. It’s titled Hope Unraveling!
Perfectum said:
“I am neck deep in a lot of new pieces now, and more details will emerge soon, but this will be very visceral and raw… the exhibition will also feature a brand new immersive installation that begs to be viewed in person.”
Hope Unraveling will take place December 6, 7, and 8 at Ketchup City Creative Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA. Perfectum will be there in person all three days as well!
The artist added, “I would like to thank Oddities & Curiosities Expo for believing in my work and having me on the road with them in 2024. If you haven’t seen me in your city yet, just know I’m already gearing up for an even busier 2025.”
Keep up to date on Perfectum’s schedule through his website right here!
Giallo Julian’s Twitter – Facebook – Letterboxd
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