“Nothing But the Truth (perhaps)”, 2010
This is a study, in an attempt to get to know our current Canadian Prime Minister better. I have long resisted following politics because it drives me to terrible anger. Our elected officials do in fact represent what our society is, and we tolerate their behaviour, most of us merely complain in pathetic defence. I am the worst of my own criticism; I follow foreign issues more than Canadian politics. My knowledge is honestly superficial and extremely bias. I wonder then if this series becomes ambiguously autobiographical in some ironic play.
Anyway, my protest is common place; I don’t like Stephen Harper or his policies. His administration and all of us, the people of Canada, have allowed the DECIMATION of northern Alberta to take place. Stephen Harper discriminates openly about gay marriage. He has grown military spending by 54% . His Government has Canada participating in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan under the cloak of women rights and aid, while also hindering women rights at home. This IS unacceptable.
To try and understand this PM, I wanted to get closer to him through 6 portrait studies. This is both a protest as well as an attempt to understand and learn more about this man. Thus, I want to make him vulnerable by painting him naked, exposing his “nature” and making his humanness more accessible to my viewers - we need more transparency, more honesty. I am tormented between remaining objective and distorting the subject for my own propagandistic means. It’s my defence against the tyranny of his leadership. Even though I feel and think that my values are far different for those of Stephen Harper I try to reduce myself to the right wing level by portraying him as a caricature(in the same vain as the attack adds produced by the conservative party). Some of the images I have produced might be shocking, however these paintings are a tiny insult in comparison to the continued destruction that is happening to our environment and our society through his administration. Which is our administration so FUCK OFF.
Each painting was accompanied by a famous artist’s quote:
1. “I think that the very earliest influence was a horror of having to work in a bank or an office.” – Frank Auerbach
2. I don’t know why everyone thinks artists are special, it’s just another job” - Andy Warhol
3. “At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.” – Salvador Dali
4. “I don’t paint nature, I am nature.” - Jackson Pollock
5. “I am only interested in painting the actual person, in doing a painting of them, not in using them to some ulterior end of art. For me, to use someone doing something not native to them would be wrong.” - Lucien Freud
6. “Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” – Claude Monet
