Impeachment Chair - A Leaving Gift for President Trump Print

This work was created as a direct response to my growing disbelief for the highly visible, self-serving behaviour and attitude of President Donald Trump during his presidency. The sculpture uses a found object as a significant part of its construction - a wooden chair - which has been dissected into two sections. The rear section behind the screen depicts the clear focus by the President on his own personal and business interests. The seat has letter T's to represent companies within the company group. Further letters on the reverse of the screen containing the US flag, replace the state stars from the flag to further emphasise the focus on personal interests. The front and back sections of the seat have been deliberately offset to represent the obvious and increasing misalignment of private and public presidential interests in many policy areas throughout the presidency. The front section of the seat was intended to represent the Presidents focus on public interest. Whilst constructing the sculpture however I struggled to identify which image I could use to summarise the many examples of US public interests not being the centre of his attention. As I was completing the sculpture the Capitol building riot unfortunately took place. It was clear that this shocking event should provide the image depicted on the seat. The Capitol building outline is there to depict the grave and poisonous nature of the riot. Finally a red fuse line runs from the rear section of the seat, woven through the flag screen, and up to the steps of the Capitol building. This depicts the clear line of responsibility for this event, from the start to the finish of the presidency, and the Presidents final ‘achievement’. I would hope the concept within this work resonates with the viewer, and their experiences, and that the sculpture is a reminder to all of us that no politicians can be allowed to forget their purpose.