Just saw this little gem over at AOL News, regarding an upcoming art exhibition in Baghdad. It looks as if political art - and political painting is alive and kicking outside of the greenzone. Muayad Muhsin is the artist behind the painting pasted here, titled Picnic.
I'm not going to say I think it is great as a painting - a little too illustrative for me - but it certainly packs a punch with its perspective on war profiteering and negligence regarding Iraqi cultural heritage. Its also good to hear that a public is is excited about a painting for a change.The artist is a war veteran of two of Saddam's brutal wars and feels that the men behind all of these wars have cost him dearly in his personal life. [An interesting counterpoint to Steve Mumford] I would argue he has found a potential new role as cultural spokesman for his war torn country. The Rumsfeld effect is going to cost us all for a long time.....
In other political art news, Jenny Holzer still has a show up at Cheim & Reid regarding Gitmo. Images here.I'm curious what people think about Holzer and this subject matter? Is it topical platform art? Is Cheim and Read profiteering from the misery of others? Is the artist complicit with this? Is it simply a little too easy, a little too timely? Or none of the above. Let me know what you think - there's alot to consider here.
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