Ils Arrivent Bientôt Collage

The major source of inspiration for this work was the cover of a vintage “Stern” magazine. An image of perhaps the most iconic painting created by Caspar David Friedrich, “Wanderer Above The Sea Of Fog” (1818); at a first glance, the image of the solitary “genius” appears decontextualized in the midst of a variety of disparate references. Friedrich was one of Hitler’s favorite painters and whether today it is hard to accept by many, 20th Century civilization was modeled on Hitler’s ideals. So curiously, the artist was also one of the critic’s choices at the time, representing the ideals of the male caucasian genius: isolated from the world, searching for Divine inspiration. Still today, many historians and the art world alike, keep on claiming him, amongst other academic painters, as the genuine artists. The argument in this case isn’t against Caspar Friedrich, who was in fact a master: his paintings were beautiful, within their time and still are a sublime example of the Romantic movement. The focus stands on the fact that today, images such as these, continue to be used by those in power as political/social/racial/gender/sexual/cultural propaganda. Friedrich’s wonderer gazes upon the map of the world, ready to conquer it. The study of Semiotics among other fields of thought, led by mid 20th Century activists (for example feminists, queers, anti-racial movements), threw down, up to a point, this concept of the male caucasian genius and gave place to an open discussion on what can and cannot be considered art. Still, everything points to a different contemporary reality. The true "owners" of the world, those who “pull the strings”, continue to sell this image of the “white male”. The situation hasn’t changed that much. Wheels within wheels, an elliptical movement: history repeating itself. In this work, the so called male genius is on top of a mountain built with fragments of erotic magazines. Secret servants of male desire; someone said artists are the greatest masturbators. In this case, inspiration doesn’t come from Divine sources, but from the gaze upon objectified bodies, alluring to the male fantasy. The future is the major concern; the contemporary world stands at a delicate moment. The “genius” does not dare to look up for inspiration. Those who may “come from above are sick of Centuries of abuse”; it is time for a change. The old Western values will no longer stand. Soon “Ils Arrivent Bientôt”, sick of exploitation. There will be a way: sooner or later “they” will be risen, all over the world and take over, claiming their rightful status as the leaders of a new era.

Collage:Paper on Cardboard

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:29.5 W x 41.7 H x 1.2 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.