As the school home to famous creative thinkers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Joyce Carol Oates, and Lorraine Hansberry, UW Madison stands as a strong supporter of the arts. The city of Madison in general is a cultural center of the Midwest. Local bands jam away in bars and restaurants on State Street. People are able to go to free art exhibits, which can contain anything from the counterculture pieces of the 1960s, to ancient African sculptures. It’s no wonder that this campus has inspired a certain few to express themselves so creatively.
One such example of Madison’s cultural influence is evident in a student by the name of Richard Johnson. A freshman living in shared housing, he has begun to create pieces of art in his communal dormitory bathroom. He uses the foods of the average college student (instant ramen, oatmeal, etc.), dumps them into the bathroom sink, and sculpts them into masterpieces. “It’s really about using only the best ingredients,” Richard tells me in the middle of one of his latest works. “The more disgusting it looks, the better.”
Preston Tentious, better known by his nickname “Pre”, is a famous local art critic who has frequently praised the so-called Picasso of university housing. “It’s really beautiful, just the low amount of effort and the disregard for everyone else on Richard's floor. In my opinion, art is only truly meaningful when it inspires suffering, in this case, the suffering of anyone who views it.”
Intensely creative, Richard has begun to display his pieces not only in the bathroom sinks, but also all over the goddamn floor. Notable works include:
“Maruchan Lisa”
“(Literally) Campbell's Soup Cans”
“I Basically Just Dumped Ramen Soup Broth and Made the Entire Bathroom Smell Like Cheap Noodles and Sodium”
“The Last Supper”
Richard has truly sparked a renaissance in the shared housing communities. Many impersonators have cropped up, and some have even taken to musically enriching occupants during their showers, blasting music for everyone to enjoy. Thank you Richard, very cool!
