Dave Alsobrooks

Culture of Corruption

The period of time between the years 2000 and 2008 were a unique period in American history. That much we can all agree on.

Culture of Corruption (COC) was an expression of this period of time, with production beginning in 2006. COC eventually became the basis for Materialism. Since that year, these large-format, mixed-media portraits have been seen in Chicago, Boone, NC and Durham, NC and garnered press and interest from around the world.

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Check out the 11 COC paintings (click to enlarge):

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Artist statement from 2006:

The Culture of Corruption cannot be stopped. It grows daily. We don’t know how long this growth will continue. Or, once it stops, if we’ll ever know to what extent it grew.

Each member of this elite(ist) society solidifies their position with words or deeds. Sometimes both. They choose their legacy with clear vision. The members of the C.O.C. select the medium of their addition to history alone and with no regret. They do not or would not ask your opinion.

Or mine.

In the future, we will look to them to tell us when to turn an eye to injustice at home or abroad. When to sacrifice life for manufactured information that will serve vendettas, egos and the thickest of wallets. They will inform us when we should be more afraid for our lives. They will not, however, tell us how much they know about us. Or what really happened. They will look us in the eye when they issue denials. Their political capital has been liquidated, but they are still spending.

I bring you the Culture of Corruption.

- DA, 2006, Banner Elk, NC

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Artist Statement from 2008:

We’ve come a long way. But only in the sense we’ve outlasted ourselves. Something along the lines of breaking a mirror and enduring seven years of bad luck. Only, in the end, it turns out to be eight.

The Culture of Corruption was founded upon unwavering values. Qualities such as perseverance, loyalty and ingenuity. Perseverance to stop at nothing in advancing an agenda. Not even the law. Loyalty which can’t be subpoenaed or cracked by Congressional inquiries. Ingenuity which continues to not only exploit but to create and buttress loopholes small enough to go unnoticed and large enough to create a vacuum of justice.

Ah yes, the Culture of Corruption. We’ve met before. And we’ll meet again — each time you grow stronger. If ever the circumstances permit your demise we’ll have won far more than our freedom.

The world will be watching.

- DA, 2/5/08, Chapel Hill, NC

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I collaborated with HaveNCredible for the Chicago and Durham shows. He created soundtracks for each show and we made them available (free!) to the public. Catch up on HaveNCredible here.

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There were also 2 versions of a COC book created to accompany the show. The most recent version of the book has the following specs:

+ 144 pages, perfect-bound
+ 4-color throughout
+ New introduction from the artist
+ Color reproductions of the paintings
+ Exclusive images of working conditions
+ Nearly 30 pages of additional content, not in v1.0
+ Evidence of a Culture of Corruption

You can view the book below — just click on the cover. And you can buy the book here.

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Several views of the COC work installed in Chicago, IL (click to enlarge).