Le Libérer
24th December 2008, 05:30
My son is working on yet another art project that de-objectifies imagery used for propganda and fear tactics. I am posting this with his permission.
Candy 9/11.
Many of us were effected by the September 11th attacks. This pivotal moment in history has left us feeling a little less certain about the future. The future for ourselves as well as the rest of humanity. We have been subjected to the imagery of the planes crashing into the twin towers for a little over six years now. To worsen the tragedy, the american government has objectified and used this catastrophe and death as a tool. For political control and for war and to obfuscate the american people. Because the images have been aired repeatedly and made as a center piece for military occupation in other parts of the world, it has been hammered into the american psyche. It's getting easier and easier to conveniently forget that when those planes hit the skyscrapers it was like busting open a can of baked beans. And what about the innocents and loss of life? These people and this event have been objectified for many things, for war, for money and consumption, greed and war,.....but not for art. Until now.
When i was looking for artistic references for my work, one picture stood out the most. It wasn't a picture of the towers collapsing, this one had people in it, running. It wasn't like looking at a metal frame and a plane, this one was significant to me because i noticed the feller in the front running his ass off and screaming bloody murder. Then i started thinking what it would like to be him. First off, the ground would have to be trembling violently with the sound of explosions and tons of steel and concrete falling upon itself. Secondly, everytime i would turn around i would see hundreds of people just as frightened as me running towards me away from the giant cloud of rubble and dust sweeping the streets at an alarming speed. So yeh, that was a little more personal.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/boo2you/running.jpg
So why not make 9/11centerpiece for art? These people deserve better than what they got and i have a unique opportunity and obligation as a serious artist to show a world perspective no one else can conjure. I started picturing the running people as "Peeps", the shitty marshmallow bunnies you get for cheap on Easter. And cookie/candy-cane skyscrapers, and a billow of sprinkles to compensate for the dust and debris. I almost went with cotton candy but i'm glad i didn't, i'm sure you'll agree, the colors are worth it. So at last, I present to you my own personal horror.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/ddemaree/img5.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/ddemaree/candy911final.jpg
Candy 9/11.
Many of us were effected by the September 11th attacks. This pivotal moment in history has left us feeling a little less certain about the future. The future for ourselves as well as the rest of humanity. We have been subjected to the imagery of the planes crashing into the twin towers for a little over six years now. To worsen the tragedy, the american government has objectified and used this catastrophe and death as a tool. For political control and for war and to obfuscate the american people. Because the images have been aired repeatedly and made as a center piece for military occupation in other parts of the world, it has been hammered into the american psyche. It's getting easier and easier to conveniently forget that when those planes hit the skyscrapers it was like busting open a can of baked beans. And what about the innocents and loss of life? These people and this event have been objectified for many things, for war, for money and consumption, greed and war,.....but not for art. Until now.
When i was looking for artistic references for my work, one picture stood out the most. It wasn't a picture of the towers collapsing, this one had people in it, running. It wasn't like looking at a metal frame and a plane, this one was significant to me because i noticed the feller in the front running his ass off and screaming bloody murder. Then i started thinking what it would like to be him. First off, the ground would have to be trembling violently with the sound of explosions and tons of steel and concrete falling upon itself. Secondly, everytime i would turn around i would see hundreds of people just as frightened as me running towards me away from the giant cloud of rubble and dust sweeping the streets at an alarming speed. So yeh, that was a little more personal.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/boo2you/running.jpg
So why not make 9/11centerpiece for art? These people deserve better than what they got and i have a unique opportunity and obligation as a serious artist to show a world perspective no one else can conjure. I started picturing the running people as "Peeps", the shitty marshmallow bunnies you get for cheap on Easter. And cookie/candy-cane skyscrapers, and a billow of sprinkles to compensate for the dust and debris. I almost went with cotton candy but i'm glad i didn't, i'm sure you'll agree, the colors are worth it. So at last, I present to you my own personal horror.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/ddemaree/img5.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/ddemaree/candy911final.jpg