Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common ailment where one can clearly see objects up close, but the surrounding environment is out of focus. This condition prevented Mark Mothersbaugh from fully seeing the world around him until he got his first pair of glasses at age 7. While most kids would dread the old four-eyed look, Mark reveled in his new visual surroundings and began his journey into art.

While Mothersbaugh is a highly recognized figure in the world of music, his dedicated and extensive engagement in the arts has remained somewhat unknown to the public. The success of his band Devo allowed him to share some of his creations - posters, album covers, costumes, and music videos - with a big audience, but it was still just a partial glimpse into a much larger, richer world of creativity beyond the Devo lens.

This world culminates into what is now “Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia,” the first retrospective exhibit of the artist’s work now on view at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. Conceptualized by the artist and MCA director Adam Lerner in 2011, “Myopia” is the second exhibition to occupy the entire museum (Fred Sandbeck being the first in 2011).

The first floor introduces the viewer to Mark in his college days at Kent State, where he soaked in the waning Beat culture and linked up with Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis to form Devo.

The personal artwork presented consists of Mark’s journals, published works, and small drawings, and then there are all the visual ephemera from Devo. Photographs, posters, multiple video screens, album covers, fan club newsletters, stage props, music playing in the galleries…there is a lot to digest in this area. But the sensation of being engulfed in this creative-savant’s mind almost seems necessary at this stage in the exhibition experience because it prepares the viewer for more delirium ahead.

Booji Boy: Devo, May 1978, photo by Bruce Conner.

A funhouse mirror at the foot of the stairs in the lower level creates a stretched and warped reflection of Nu, poqodi! (just you wait!). Around the corner in a darkened room, glowing light emanates from Ruby Kustard and Postcard Superhero Series #001.

The pink swirl on Ruby Kustard is made from the world’s largest ruby crystal and is meant to poke fun at the fine jewelry and art industries. Funny comment to make in one of the most indulgent exhibitions I’ve seen in recent times, but dwelling on details like that takes the fun out of it.

Motherbaugh’s myopic condition triggered an early fascination with visual anomalies, particularly mirrored images, and the upper level gallery exploring this theme is quite beautiful. The double-ended Scion doesn’t exactly flow with the Victorian-era images that fill the room, but again, the focus is on fun, which is definitely achieved with this piece.

Beyond the room with the musical birdcall sculptures and animated doormats, adjacent to the grassy gnome village, is the gallery that holds what lies at the heart of Mothersbaugh’s artistic practice. Since his early Devo days, Mark would draw on postcards and send them to friends and family while on tour. It became a daily goal to draw one, or maybe ten, postcards a day until he reached 30,000. These postcards are available in binders for visitors to page through and explore.

For as enjoyable as this entire exhibition is, this final display offered a welcomed sense of calm at the end. Mothersbaugh shows a range of styles in these drawings, from brightly colored and highly detailed, to monochrome and minimalist. It is these small drawings that provide the foundations for the much grander pieces like the musical sculptures and psychedelic paintings, and it is comforting to know that Mothersbaugh engages in this humble practice every day.

“Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia” is on view at the Denver MCA until April 12, 2015, and is expected to travel to The Grey Art Gallery at NYU, the Contemporary Arts Center at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. If this show hits your city or somewhere nearby, definitely take the time to see it.

-Hayley Richardson

November 26, 2014