Description

Paul Romano is a fine artist and designer working and living in Philadelphia. Romano’s work spans many mediums and aesthetics, nodding to art history and imbued with abstract narrative. He has worked with many aggressive bands across multiple albums, including Mastodon, dälek, Hate Eternal, The Red Chord, and Withered to name a few.

Folie Circulaire (Withered)
2008, Charcoal, ink on Rives BFK Tan 20×20”

Withered is a band near and dear to me. I’ve worked with them since their 2003 2004 demo. Mike (vocals, guitar) and I see eye to eye on the themes he chooses for each album. This image was the cover for the CD version of Folie. Folie Circulaire translates to cyclical madness. I thought about being your own worst enemy, caught in the dramas we make for ourselves time and time again.

We have our protagonist listening to the whispers and eating the chaotic constructions of their own madness. This was the first instance of me using the chaos-architecture that has since had roles in every Withered release. Those structures are inspired by the work of Japanese sculptor Tadashi Kawamata. Also at the time I made this suite of images, I was looking quite a bit at Alfred Kubin’s work.

Available as a museum quality Giclee Print in three sizes.