project proposal

For this semester’s project I wanted to focus on the political. Not so much the obvious political images of a hated president but more of imagery that is politically charged, with a commentary on its subject. I have always been interested in the violent and the act of painting the violent image, how the viewer reacts to the subject and the relationship of the painter with the subject.



We, as a race, are violent. War is inevitable and I believe that war is something that we have to accept as a consequence to our nature. As someone who believes that peace is ideal, but is aware that it is unattainable, I am constantly frustrated with the naivety of politically charged pieces, and their attempt to sell peace as an end-all construct. I would like to propose an acceptance of violence as apart of our nature and embracing the knowledge that we cannot live with out it, as the first step toward a more peaceful nature.

I also would like examine how something that is violent, can become beautiful. I also want to play with the reactions of the viewer, create a response of awe, humility and terror, while throwing those emotions in the same mix as beauty and peace. In all, I want my paintings to help us (and myself) examine ourselves and our nature.