Machine Politick
Machine Politick
Art That's Not Liberal
Title:Justice is Served
Completed: 2007
Medium: Acrylic and ink on board.
Price: $1350
Dimensions: 24w x 28h x 2d
Notes: Framed by artist.
Description:
This painting is in response to the trial and hanging of Saddam Hussein. The idea behind this piece should be pretty straightforward. Hussein was a cruel dictator. He tortured and killed people. He had a weapons program. He intended to produce more chemical weapons. Planes and missiles were buried in the desert.
He was tried, found guilty, and hanged. Justice is served. It was the right decision and I am impressed that it was handled so well.
The visual elements of the painting are pretty obvious. No symbolism was needed. The clouds in the background represent the chemical weapons he used on the people of his country for purposes of ethnic and cultural cleansing. The text is from several articles describing Hussein as a person and as a ruler, chronicling the atrocities that he ordered or participated in directly. I originally intended to make the clouds in the background the color of the gases he used; Sarin, VX and Mustard. I decided, in the end, to go monochromatic because it makes the piece more somber and creates a feeling more appropriate to the tyranny of Saddam and the ending of his life. The frame is textured to complement the painting.
I was inspired to paint this piece because I don’t understand why terrorists and perpetrators of genocide are afforded the same sympathy as that given to the people they kill. Sometimes it seems like the world is more concerned with maintaining “peace” than providing justice for people who cannot defend themselves. I feel that the appropriate action was taken in this case. I hope that the viewer is able gain something from this painting through an examination of their own thoughts on the subject.
This painting creates a moment in time and captures the end of a terrible chapter in the history of the world.
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CONTACT: frances@machinepolitick.com
All images and political rants on this page are the property of Machine Politick and are not to be used or reproduced in any way without permission from frances@machinepolitick.com. All images are copyrighted creations of the artist behind Machine Politick unless otherwise noted and are not to be used or reproduced in any way without permission from frances@machinepolitick.com. Copyright 2006.