Kid Cudi is pulling back the curtain on his newest creative chapter, not as a rapper or actor, but as a visual artist.
On Thursday (Jan. 15), Cudi posted a video to Instagram showing him painting in a studio, using it to announce the debut of a documentary titled Echoes of the Past, which centers on his emerging fine art journey. In the video, Cudi narrates what painting has come to mean to him, describing it as something deeper than a pastime.
“The joy I get from painting, it’s like no other joy on earth for me — which is why I’m diving in headfirst,” Cudi says in the audio. He adds that much of his work carries “dark undertones,” explaining that several pieces act as reflections on lessons learned through experience, including themes like “self-sabotage” and being “your own worst enemy.”
“I wish I had that in mind like 10 years ago,” he says. “I wish I knew that I was literally putting the wrench in my bike spokes on my own life when all I had to do is wake up and make the right decisions.” Cudi then notes that painting has helped keep him mentally grounded: “Painting does help me stay in the light. It’s very therapeutic.”
In the caption, he revealed the film’s rollout plans and credited director Joshua Charow, writing: “Tomorrow, 9am PST: I debut my documentary about my visual arts journey, ECHOES OF THE PAST.” He also noted that he would share it directly to his Instagram feed for fans. The documentary is now available to watch on YouTube.
Cudi followed up his previous post the next day with another one confirming the full title of the project: ECHOES OF THE PAST: A PORTRAIT OF SCOTTY RAMON, again crediting Charow and calling it a MADSOLAR production. He described the film as an entry point into his new world, adding that it features an original score by the artist himself.
The documentary and rollout come as Cudi prepares to formally introduce his painting persona Scotty Ramon, the name he’s using as he enters the fine art space. His debut exhibition, also titled Echoes of the Past, is set to open in Paris at Ruttkowski;68, located in the city’s 3rd arrondissement, with an opening reception scheduled for January 30, before the show runs through early March.