“EINSTEIN: HUMAN STUPIDITY IS INFINITE”, 2021 Artwork - Limited Edition of 12

NOTE: EDITION OF12 is for 48 x 32 inches series. The price and information here are for 16 x 24 inches - edition of 500. How often do we get frustrated over stupidity? How many times do we think about our own acts of stupidity? Is there no end to human stupidity? Not according to one of the most intelligent people to ever have lived – Albert Einstein. Gestalt therapist Frederick (Frtiz) Perls wrote that he and Albert Einstein spent an afternoon together and it was there that Albert Einstein spoke these words to him: “Two things are infinite – human stupidity and the universe, and I’m not yet completely sure about the universe!” They are first mentioned by Perls in his book, “Ego, Hunger, and Aggression: a Revision of Freud’s Theory and Method.” (1942) My series “Famous Tweets In History” explores and highlights the timelessness of meaningful words by famous people. Some of those people, such as Albert Einstein impacted the world at time when the words were written, spoken or televised but not able to be Tweeted. The soundbites of yesterday are the Tweets of today, and vice-versa. The written and spoken quotes of authors, poets, celebrities, politicians, scientists, astronomers and philosophers of yesterday are the Tweets of today. What might have occurred if Twitter existed in 1942 when Albert Einstein was enjoying an afternoon with a friend full of ‘warmth’ and “unpretentiousness” and revealing his perspective on the infinite nature of human stupidity? Who would have been his followers? In keeping with my Famous Tweets series and Andy Warhol’s pop art interpretation and stylization of celebrities and other famous people who impacted the world, I chose bright, spontaneous, expressive, neon colors representing the flashy yet shallow way we see the world and celebrities, our obsession with fame, and the flashy and shallow way they are often represented or sold to the public. The image of Einstein that I used for this Famous Tweet is one that is instantly recognizable although few people know its story – and I wanted to express his character and eccentricity via neon colors, and an expressionistic painting style. “On Einstein's 72nd birthday on March 14, 1951, United Press photographer Arthur Sasse was trying to persuade him to smile for the camera, but having smiled for photographers many times that day, Einstein stuck out his tongue instead. This [black and white] photograph became one of the most popular ever taken of Einstein, often used in merchandise depicting him in a lighthearted sense. Einstein enjoyed this photo and requested UPI to give him nine copies for personal use, one of which he signed for a reporter.” - Wikipedia I chose to digitally paint this image – using digital paint brushes that appear to be and flow just like oil paints on a canvas, allowing me to create brush and bristle textures and the oily flow and feel of a canvas painting. Warhol had created a series on Einstein using the same photo but I wanted to give Einstein more depth and humanity, as well as be able to see the aging - the spots and wrinkles on his face. Unlike Warhol who usually painted or silk-screened his subjects and flattened the eyes, I wanted to highlight the eyes and reveal more of the emotion of each subject (Einstein and his Followers) by painting each one with a style that matches their personality or character. I also neutralized the boundaries of time while also highlighting the people that could have been Einstein’s Followers (some of them if they had been alive such as Kanye West and Donald Trump who both perceive themselves as geniuses, or Lady Gaga who perceives herself to be deep, philosophical and an intellectual. I also included E.T. (the Extra-Terrestrial fictional character from 1982) who had he been real would have been following Einstein as a way to find the answer about how to get “home.” This piece, “EINSTEIN: HUMAN STUPIDITY IS INFINITE”, captures a historic moment while blurring the lines of time and reinforcing what we believe to be true based on our experiences – that human stupidity has no end or boundaries – it is “infinite!” Other creations in Patrick Wanis’ “Famous Tweets In History Series”: • “Bill Burr – Plenty Of Reasons To Hit A Woman, You Just Don’t Do it”, 2022 • “Ricky Gervais – Because You’re Offended Doesn’t Mean You’re Right”, 2021 • “Jenna Ryan – I’m Not Going To Jail”, 2021 • “Dave Chappelle – Gender Is A Fact”, 2021 • “Britney – I Just Want My Life Back!”, 2021 • “Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Women Belong Where Decisions Are Made!”,2021 • “Jesus – The Two Commandments”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Dirty Harry: I Have A Firm Policy On Gun Control”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Dirty Harry: Nothing Wrong With Shooting”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Dirty Harry: You’ve Got To Ask Yourself One Question”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Gran Torino: Somebody You Shouldn’t Have F*cked With”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Gran Torino: I Shoot You And I Sleep Like A Baby”, 2021 • “Eastwood – Fistful Of Dollars: Apologize To My Mule”, 2021 • “Trump: Remember This Day Forever! – Patriots and Fascists” Diptych, 2021 • “Trump: Sorry Losers and Haters – Kiss Goodbye”, 2021 • “Biden: Children Need A Role Model”, 2021 • “Dog - Your Best Friend: Where Is The Love?”, 2021 • “Clinton: I Never Lied”, 2020 • “Marilyn: They Loved Somebody I Wasn’t”, 2020 • “Einstein: Human Stupidity Is Infinite”, 2020 • “Trump: My Words Are Art”, 2019