Ran Kunst

My work combines painting, popular culture and social observation. Alongside paintings, mainly acrylic on canvas, I create prints, merchandise and three-dimensional interpretations of my characters. Across these different forms, my aim is not merely to create an image, but an experience, one that invites, surprises and ultimately encourages reflection.

In recent years, my practice has focused on the development of the Shouter, a character that symbolises the loud, self-overpowering individual of today. In a world where everyone wants to be heard, particularly online, we often hide our insecurities behind an outward display of confidence. The Shouter embodies precisely that tension between external expression and inner vulnerability. Each Shouter wears a costume, often inspired by popular culture, films or iconic figures. These costumes contribute to the narrative and the complexity of the identity presented to the outside world.

The idea for the Shouter emerged years ago, during endless meetings in which I encountered people who mainly spoke, but rarely listened. What began as a series of spontaneous doodles grew into a recurring character that continues to evolve.

Although Shouters are not the only characters I create, they are central to my recent work. Each one is unique and hand-painted. The style appears clean and graphic, but when viewed up close, the imperfections become visible, emphasising the vulnerability and humanity beneath the surface. My use of colour plays an important role in this. The bright, contrasting colours draw the eye and may even elicit a smile, but the longer you look, the more you discover beneath the surface. That tension between the playful and the confrontational is essential to me. It is part of the experience I want to evoke.