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Adrenaline-fuelled, photo-realistic paintings that capture the intensity of mosh pits

Chicago-born, New York-based artist Dan Witz captures the intensity of the sweaty mosh pit with these photo-realistic paintings.

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All images courtesy of the artist and Pogo Books

All images courtesy of the artist and Pogo Books

Inspired by his own spell as a musician, and realising how much he'd miss the intensity of performing when he returned to making art full time, he decided to create paintings that satisfy the adrenalin and animalistic frenzy he still craved.

In an artist statement, he said: "After photographing in the mosh pits for a while I began to get familiar with patterns in the music. Eventually, it got to the point where I could sense the moment coming when things would really cut loose and go berserk. I had the camera on a pole so I'd hit the timer, count down with the music and lift the camera over the crowd hoping the shutter would click at the optimum moment. It was mostly luck but when I'd nail someone in full barbaric yawp it was as satisfying as performing. And being tossed around in the mosh pit definitely satisfied my need for adrenalin and an art-form that involved risk.

"Another thing I've noticed in my museum and gallery wanderings is that if you watch people, the majority of them spend just a few moments in front of the art. As an artist this is disturbing. And a challenge. I mean, we pour everything into these things, we dedicate our lives to these objects, and it seems sad that our best efforts can divert people's attention for barely a few seconds. And these are people who are motivated to go look at art - what about the rest of the world? I understand that we all have short attention spans and the world is over-saturated with images, but still, as artists, I think the goal has got to be to transcend this benumbed condition and figure out a way to make images that are worthy of your prolonged attention."

Via Pogo Books

Crowd of people in a mosh pit, bodies pressed together in intense physical contact, captured in a moment of raw energy and movement
Crowd of people in a mosh pit at a concert, with bodies pressed together in animated movement and intensity
A densely packed crowd of people in a mosh pit, with bodies pressed together in chaotic movement, captured in photo-realistic detail by Dan Witz
A crowd of shirtless and tattooed men engaged in an intense mosh pit, pushing and grappling together at what appears to be a music venue or concert
Overhead view of a crowded mosh pit with dozens of people pushing, dancing and colliding on a wooden floor during a concert
Dense crowd of concert-goers in a mosh pit, captured from above with bodies pressed together in energetic motion
Sweating musicians with tattoos and neon wristbands colliding in a chaotic mosh pit, captured in Dan Witz's photo-realistic painting
A crowd of people in sports jerseys jostle together in a mosh pit, their bodies pressed close as hands reach out amid the intense physicality
Dense crowd of shirtless and clothed concertgoers packed tightly together in a mosh pit, some with raised fists and tattooed bodies
A group of people with raised arms and animated expressions crowd together in a mosh pit against a dark background
Densely packed crowd of people dancing and moving together in a mosh pit, captured from above in photo-realistic detail
Tattooed arms raised amid a crowd of people dancing and moving together in a dimly lit mosh pit
A crowded mosh pit with dozens of people dancing and moving energetically together in a dark indoor venue
A densely packed crowd of shirtless and partially clothed men in a mosh pit, their bodies intertwined in intense physical contact during what appears to be a live music performance
Crowd of people in a mosh pit with hands raised and bodies pressed together against a dark background
Overhead view of a densely packed mosh pit with dozens of people tangled together, captured in photo-realistic painting by Dan Witz
A densely packed crowd of people in dark clothing dancing intensely in a mosh pit, with one person wearing a red cap visible among them
A densely packed crowd of people in a mosh pit, bodies pressed together in animated chaos and physical contact under dim lighting
Crowded mosh pit with people dancing closely together, arms raised, captured in a photo-realistic painting by Dan Witz
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