Friday, 4 December 2015

"Propaganda"




This artwork "Propaganda" is an acrylic on paper painting. I was inspired for this artwork when I found myself reading up on carrier pigeons and how they have been used for hundreds of years to carry messages - especially during war time. While I was researching this I was also looking into Nazi Germany and the way propaganda and terror were used in the totalitarian state to gain and maintain control. The power and effectiveness of propaganda is very interesting and I found myself doing quite a bit of research on it, not only its use by Gobbles during Nazi control, but in other countries as well during war time, advertisement, political campaigns, protests etc. 

The idea of propaganda still being prominent in society was the main inspiration for this artwork. The background is a collage of different propaganda pieces, representing that propaganda is all around as in our everyday lives. The bird on my shoulder is a pigeon representing the sending of massages and how the government and teachers and other forces of influence are singing lies and propaganda into our ears at all times - because it is a representation of propaganda that is is painted grey to blend in and look like a part of the background. In the first artwork I am listening to the bird, showing myself being influenced by the lies I'm being told. The second artwork shows me turning my head away from the bird - representing me no longer listening to what the bird has to say. The bird still rests on my shoulder even though I am not listening to it, representing the constant present of propaganda, that even though we choose not to listen it is still there regardless. The figure (myself) does not have any clothes on, displaying the rawness of the human physic and how vulnerable we as humans can be. That we are often bare against the onslaught of outward influences trying to manipulate us.  

I am very proud of this artwork, I enjoy the way is looks and I feel as though it clearly displays the meaning I intended when molding the idea and creating the artwork. I don't often do paintings, especially with acrylic paint, but I did really enjoy this artwork. I plan on doing more pieces like this in the future.