The Trident - Issue #16 2004

The Trident is publication by 3 Tine Productions, located in St. Louis. You can contact the editor here:

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Art Is Dead:

An Interview with Necrosculpture Creator Owen Leitsch

By Greg Nasty

[Warlock Owen Leitsch has been challenging the contemporary Art Establishment with his provocative creations which he collectively labels “necrosculptures.” I took it as a challenge to interview this former OBS Grotto member from Louisville, KY, and NOT ask all the same obvious (and often silly) questions his many other interviewers have posed ... while still revealing some interesting insights into the inner working of this quiet modern aesthetic revolutionary.]

Greg Nasty: You label your work “necrosculpture” – please describe it for those readers who haven’t heard about it.

Owen Leitsch: Necrosculpture is a name that I came up with while creating my art work. In order to understand what the word means, I will break it down. “Necro” is a term used to describe a dead body or something that is dead. “Sculpture” is a work of three-dimensional art. So I placed the two words together to create the name Necrosculpture. I use animal bones, dried plants, preserved insects, and other supplies that are “dead,” and I fashion them into a “fetish,” or an object that is believed to have magical or spiritual powers . Probably the best way of describing my art is to direct the readers to go to my web site at: www.necrosculptures.com.

GN: As I understand, you’ve been doing this since 1997. How do you feel your work has evolved in that time?

OL: When I first started creating my work, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t have much training in construction, so I would try something and if it didn’t work out, I would do something different until the sculpture stayed together and looked good. As I put more together, I have learned better ways to construct them. I feel as though my work has evolved since the early days. I am much quicker at forming ideas, designing and constructing sculptures. I feel as though the process is part of me and it comes as second nature.

GN: I was wondering if you were familiar with Gunther von Hagens (www.bodyworlds.com), the German pathologist, inventor, and artist who preserves human and animal flesh with reactive polymers, posing them in provocative tableaux? If so, what do you think of his work and the controversy surrounding it?

OL: I am familiar with Mr. von Hagens work, and I enjoy his use of the human body to display the human form as it is. I would love to possess the formula for his plastination technique. I am sure I could create more interesting art work with this knowledge.

Before you asked me about the controversy surrounding his exhibit (Body Worlds), I didn’t know that there was any negative feeling surrounding it. I have read several articles about the controversy and I can see the point of those who find his work disturbing. I however do not see a problem with his exhibit. Personally, I find the anatomy of animals and humans fascinating. Something about the physiology of how the parts of the body work together to keep itself alive is amazing. Gunther von Hagens is showing to the world how people really look on the inside. For years now, we have only seen the human anatomy on the printed page or in jars. He is displaying the most accurate way of viewing anatomy specimens without the use of jars and the preserving liquid. I feel as though Mr. von Hagens has developed a wonderful technique to preserve the dead. Think about the possibilities. The funeral industry could create better looking corpses that look as they did in life instead of the “false life” that the process of embalming and the make-up they use does. I think that the funeral industry should purchase his technique and initialize its use as soon as possible.

GN: As your own work becomes more well-known, has the controversy around it increased or decreased? How do you deal with negative feedback?

OL: I really haven’t had much controversy about my work. Most of the people who have seen my creations enjoy what I’m doing. There are only a couple of negative feedbacks that I have experienced that stand out. One is a person who posted something on a message board saying that they didn’t like my creations. My response to that is, “Art is in the eye of the beholder. Some may see a wonderful creation; others will see something that is unpleasant.” The other is that a religious group contacted me in the year 2000, saying that God was angry with me because of the desecration of animals and they even threatened my life. I passed it over to the authorities and that was the end of it. I have not heard from them since.

I understand that there are people who will not like my work, that’s typical. I like what I’m doing and even if nobody else likes it, I do. And that’s what’s important.

GN: Because this is the “Death” issue, could you tell us a little about your perspective on the topic and how it has informed your work? For example, growing up, how was the subject of death treated in your home?

OL: While growing up, I was told that death was a part of life and that everyone will experience it someday. I was taught to enjoy every day that I have and to live life to its fullest.

Death for me is a mystery. There have been many theories about what happens after life ceases, like an afterlife (i.e. Heaven, Hell and Purgatory), but I don’t believe in any of that. I know that people are made up of flesh, blood, bone, nerves, etc; but we are also made up of energy. It’s that spark of energy that gives us life. Just like Dr. Frankenstein discovered in the lovely tale about the modern Prometheus. I believe that when we die, our energy leaves our bodies and meshes with all other energy fields to be used by them.

However, as I have said before, I don’t believe that there is any afterlife. No “pie in the sky” or “a fire below.” I agree, wholeheartedly with what Dr. LaVey said that the only afterlife we have is in the memories of friends, family and enemies that we have encountered. When someone remembers you after you have shuffled off this mortal coil — that is immortality.

GN: I understand your first degree was in Mortuary Sciences, preparatory to entering the Funeral Industry. What attracted you to that course of study and career?

OL: Growing up, I guess one could say I was melancholy. I didn’t have many friends, so I was left to my own devices. I was interested in horror movies, and that led me down the path to reading about dying, death, and grief. Why these subjects fascinated me, I do not know, and probably will never know. But with the knowledge that I had with my after school studies, I felt that the Funeral Industry would suit me well.

GN: But you eventually left the Funeral industry ... why?

OL: I have left the Funeral Industry completely. Not necessarily because I couldn’t handle it, but because the other workers sickened me. While working with the Funeral Directors, It became apparent the chief motivation was profit. Now, I’m not opposed to making money, far from it, but what I disagree with is the lack of feeling these people had with their clients. I don’t know how many times I saw a director sell an overpriced service to a family who couldn’t afford it. I’m all for survival of the fittest, stepping on the weak and all that, but I feel that what I saw being done was bad for business.

Because I didn’t want to deal with the “business” side of the industry, I decided to try my hand at embalming. I enjoyed embalming, the medical procedure of preserving a dead body for burial. But I soon discovered those who I was working around weren’t the best people to be with. Many of the embalmers I worked with had necrophilic tendencies towards the corpses. This was something that I couldn’t agree with, so, I left the industry.

GN: What is the connection (if any) between the development of your views on death and your evolution as a Satanist?

OL: My sculptures, views, and beliefs all go hand in hand. Satanism is the worship of life; it is a Carpe Diem (seize the day) religion. It doesn’t focus on death. I see my art not as a celebration of death, but a celebration of life. The animals that I use used to be alive, so in a way, I extend their life essence by making them the point of communication between myself and my audience.

GN: Tell us about your collection of books on the Occult.

OL: Ah yes, my ever expanding collection of books. When you ask about the Occult books, are you meaning books on magic, or are you asking about books that fit with the definition of Occult (Hidden from view; concealed )?

The magic section of my collection is vast. I have all of Dr. LaVey’s books (of course), and many other books by occultists like Aleister Crowley, Montague Summers, Eliphas Levi, and many more. Most of my volumes are in hardbound format and quite rare.

If you are asking about the “hidden” books in my collection, then there are many. I’m sure that I could make a listing for you, but I don’t think you would want the list to take up the entire magazine. However, it is harder to find occult books nowadays because everything that is odd, weird, or just not “popular” is becoming more and more popular. With the Internet, word spreads about a subject and then it winds up becoming popular.

GN: Are your artworks magical?

OL: For me, my artwork is magical. I put my heart and soul into every piece that I create. And, I’m sure, that drive, determination and love that I have for the sculpture gets transferred into the work. When I create my work, I find myself into another form of consciousness. Everything around me seems to slow down, or stop all together. I guess one would say that I’m “in the zone.”

When I created my first sculpture “The Bone Column”, back in 1997, I performed a personal magical ceremony while constructing it. I won’t say what the ceremony was, that would spoil it, but that sculpture gets the most comments and “hits” on my web site. Coincidence?

GN: Recently you were working on a degree program in Arts Administration. Having been a professional artist for a few years now, how do your studies relate to your real world experiences?

OL: I initially started out to earn a degree in Arts Administration, however with so much going on in my private life; I have not completed the course. However, while taking classes, I learned that what is taught in school applies somewhat to the real world.

In school, I was taught that many art galleries are open to new expressions in art. However, with my art career, I have found this to be false, especially here in a conservative community [Louisville, KY - ed.]. If I were painting landscapes and portraits, I could get all of the gallery space that I wanted, but, from what I’m told, I cater to an “alternative” and “underground” subculture. I would have to go to a much larger city to display my artwork. I can understand their thinking, however I think it is silly and a form of censorship that local galleries will not allow me to exhibit my work. I have had a few “underground” art shows and they have gone over really well, but I would like to have more local coverage. I think the only way for me to do this is to start my own gallery and display the art I would like to display.

GN: How would you compare the experience of creating art with the business of selling and marketing art?

OL: I’m not sure if one could compare the two. For me, creating art and selling/marketing art are two separate entities. I have done both for a little while now. Creating art is a form of self-expression, a way to let loose the feelings that one holds inside. I would say that creating my sculptures is a form of Ritual. Many Satanists hold rituals to let loose their feelings; I let loose by creating some great artwork that I love. I get enjoyment by going into my workshop and designing and constructing a new sculpture.

Selling and Marketing artwork is much more difficult. I have to promote my work (with help by the lovely Ms Abby Brimstone) by updating my web site, sending out new announcements to my Yahoo Group and other online groups that I belong to, getting in contact with galleries and so much more. With all of the promoting, many times it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t, but either way, it gets my name out into the public eye and seems to get more people interested in what I am doing.

GN: What lessons can the Artist learn from the Businessperson and vise versa?

OL: I think that the Artist can learn a lot from the Businessperson. The Businessperson has to really work to promote whatever it is that they are selling. They have to present the product in a way that will make it appealing to many people. If they are successful, many people will purchase said work.

The Businessperson can learn from the Artist how to somewhat relax. The Artist does some “soul searching” and creates. Sometimes, creating can be stressful, but for me as an artist, it is very relaxing. What the Artist creates can be anything from artwork to music, etc. I think the Businessperson gets wrapped up in promoting and selling and forgets how to relax. The Artist can teach the essential lesson of letting loose, to unwind.

GN: What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

OL: Create something you like. If you like a certain painting, photograph, sculpture, etc; try to make it yourself. When I started creating my sculptures, I was looking for artwork that was made from bones. I didn’t find what I was looking for, so I created my own. If what you create doesn’t work out the first time, keep at it. The old saying is, “Practice makes perfect.” This is true; keep at it and don’t give up.

And probably one of the best things to do is promote, promote, promote. Get your name and craft out into the public eye. If you have created something, get it into an art show, even if it is a small one. The more shows you do, the better the chance you have that people will become interested in your work.

GN: What can we look forward to next from Owen Leitsch?

OL: I will have T-Shirts, Art Prints, and Postcards for sale on my website, www.necrosculptures.com. I have several new sculptures in the works and when they are completed they will be featured on the site as well. I have a Yahoo Group where I announce new updates; interesting links and other things. In the future, I would like to start painting. I have had some really great ideas for paintings that I would love to get down on canvas. Keep checking back to my site and the Yahoo Group, I will post announcements there.

All Images and Text is Copyrighted by The Trident © 2004

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