Bio

Chris Simonite is an artist from Winnipeg who spends most of his time making paintings (and occasionally animations/videos) based on pop culture, conspiracy theories and other things that lie at the murky edges.
He has three degrees (BA, BFA, MFA, if you must know) and has shown his art in four countries on Earth. He is also a member of the legendary (in their own minds) Frost Shield Kerfuffle Collective.

Chris Simonite has a musical/comedy/performance art alter ego, a faux Cowpunk Star called Stan Dickie, who was the subject of his MFA thesis. He’s pretty sure the University of Ottawa never forgave him for it.

Works

A Wildman Odyssey

  • 2010
  • Chris Simonite

A Wildman Odyssey is the story of a man whose mind is destroyed by televised portrayals of masculinity. While watching television, his “Inner Wildman” separates from his body and goes on a journey to discover who he really is. The results are all at once ridiculous, comic, tragic - and exceptionally geeky.

A Wildman Odyssey

The Passion of the Last Temptation of the Whatsisface

  • 2010
  • Chris Simonite

The Passion of the Last Temptation of the Whatsisface is the story of a clueless everyman, the Whatsisface, who is confronted with questions of his ultimate significance as a male. While “radical feminists” attempt to sacrifice him, he is offered a chance to live as a “real man” with terrifyingly amusing results.

Passion of the Last Temptation of the Whatsisface, The

The Whatsisface in: Catch 'Er? Not This Guy!

  • 2009
  • Chris Simonite

The Whatsisface in: Catch ‘Er? Not This Guy! sees the Whatsisface replace the Coyote in a Looney Tunes world where his prey is a busty “Fabulous Babe” in a red dress. Like the Coyote, the Whatsisface utilizes Acme products, which become the scapegoat in his clueless attempts to impress.

Whatsisface in: Catch ‘Er Not This Guy, The

The Whatsisface Theme

  • 2009
  • Chris Simonite

The Whatsisface Theme video is intended to be a companion piece to the animated The Whatsisface in: Catch ‘Er Not This Guy. In this faux theme song to a fictional Whatsisface tv show, the artist replaces his animated alter ego leaving the audience to wonder: “Is he really that pathetic?”

Whatsisface Theme, The

Men: They're All The Same

  • 2008
  • Chris Simonite

Men: They’re All the Same is a humorous exploration of male identity. Its main character known only as “Whatsisface” is clueless as he navigates his way through a world of stereotypes and obstacles to his sexual fulfillment. The viewer wonders: can he be redeemed? Does he need to be redeemed?

Men: They’re All the Same