"The world of ‘Tidy’ is a dense and claustrophobic world, characterized by enmeshment, patterning, figures, introspection, the sweet rot of candy, and acidic overload. The consistency of repetition within these realms is striking. Messy Beck repeats images, and through this process, they become increasingly real. The dream is alive, and it is haunting."
- Kate Laster
“What started as a reclamation of my process, Tidy ultimately ended up being a direct manifestation of the very skills and compulsions formed by the society I was trying to block out. Perfectionism became painstaking patterns, commitment became the redundancy of image replication, and success became the rate at which you will buy pieces from this catalog—a stark departure from the aspirational, anti-capitalist sentiments I began with.
The same contradictions that marked my process are also evident in the imagery itself. Tidy attempts a narrative of finding joy and meaning in futility. The things we're told not to waste our time on or bother with are the moments and images I obsess over. I mean, I refined my craft for fourteen years, only to use my developed skill sets to paint a four-foot image of nose picking.
In summary, the lesson Tidy had in store for me was this: no matter how clean my lines or balanced my compositions, the messiness of life persists. Even so, every moment building this body of work brought me joy, peace, and fulfillment. To make art, no matter how well, how big, or how impactful is both a privilege and a plea for a life beyond survival. And for that reason alone, I hope you enjoy it.”
- Messy Beck
