Look what I found while rummaging through some boxes (Yes, I’m still unpacking!). I made this for the “Facade” exhibition in 2005. It seems all the more appropriate during this year’s election process, doesn’t it?
Hopefully I don’t have to explain the iconography to you. But just in case: the theme of the show was “facade” and all the artists participating were expected to create artwork revolving around this concept. Therefore, I created an artwork about things “not being what they seem”. Britney Spears had recently been discovered not to be a saint (surprise!). It turned out, in fact, that she was more than likely the opposite of a saint. On the same note, Michael Jackson wasn’t quite so kid friendly as Mickey Mouse, nor was Martha Stewart the Wonder Woman we all thought she was.
I guess in the end, I was trying to get the viewers to ask themselves why we look up to celebrities. How do they deserve the honor of being put on a national pedestal?
I was studying “quality of line” at the time and decided to create an image with purposefully bad and smudgy line work. This approach seemed to reinforce the “facade” theme.
Anyways… Just a little “flashback” for you to enjoy.
Cheers!
American Idol Triptych. Acrylic on canvas. © 2005 Haley Nagy
