This is Shagville, the creation of American Josh Agle. At least, that's who he was until the former freelance illustrator turned full-time artist, combining the last two letters of his first name with the first two of his last to become known as Shag.
Since that day, sometime in the mid- to late-90s, his work has been regarded the world over as the epitome of weird chic. Quite often his paintings act as snapshots of inconclusive situations, set-ups to which viewers can create their own narratives. Other times they simply show folk relaxing and/or revelling - although during these moments of stylish normality you half expect Martini-sipping Martians or beatnik skeletons to invade the proceedings.
But however humorous the maestro's renderings appear, there's always a dark and mysterious side lurking just beneath the surface. Which is why we strapped Shag under the inquisitor's spotlight to get him talking about himself and his twisted imagination.
Where were you raised?
I was raised in Hawaii and Southern California by strictly religious, Mormon parents. Drinking, smoking and sleeping around were completely forbidden.
Growing up, did you ever use your artistic ability to create places to escape to?
I did use it to create places I'd like to inhabit or visit. My speciality was drawing the supervillain lairs that I'd live in when I got older. My earliest influences were the drive-in movies my parents used to take me to when I was a kid - Bond films, European comedies, adventure movies. It was a world I'd never experienced and it really left an impression on everything I did, from the pictures I drew to the games I played.
Your art is like a kaleidoscope of retro imagery. Do you prefer the past to the present?
I think my artistic sensibilities are defined by what I thought was cool as a child. A modern, jetsetting, bachelor lifestyle was once my ultimate dream, but now it's more the look of that lifestyle than the reality of it that I appreciate.
Your pictures also suggest you have a wicked sense of humour. What's the most outrageous prank you've ever committed?
When I was in my 20s I used to call acquaintances whom I mildly disliked and tell them, in a calm, emotionless voice, that I was angry with them, and that I was on my way over to their house. For some reason, the vagueness of the threat and my emotionless voice worked some people into hysterics.
Tell us one of your most hideous nightmares...
My most hideous nightmares happened as a child. Now, any troubling dreams I have involve doing a repetitive task, which I can't quite get right. As a child, my dreams involved being endlessly burned in a bonfire. I remember waking
up one night and still seeing the flames on the wall, even though I was awake.
Describe your ideal woman...
I like a lot of women, so it's hard to pick a single, idealised woman. In reality, my tastes run towards a more curvaceous type of body - like Bettie Page or the pin-ups of Vargas - although I always paint angular, tall and thin women, which I also really dig. Elizabeth Hurley is sort of the model for a lot of women in my work. I also find it sexy when women have their hair up and wear gloves and strapless gowns - you'll see that a lot in my paintings.
How do you want to be remembered?
I hope I'm remembered as someone who left a little imprint on pop culture around the millennium. I don't expect to be remembered as a groundbreaking or avant-garde artist, or someone whose work was historically important - just as a good painter and illustrator who cornered his own little market.
*More cool stuff on Shag and his work can be found at Shag.com
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