Materialism

Materialism has evolved organically over the last 5 years of focused efforts producing art. The concept behind it reached a critical mass during production of the Culture of Corruption (COC) series in 2006. It was at this time I realized I was building something new upon a foundation of my training, life experiences and media obsessions. In this series of work, I employed experimental techniques (many for the first time). More importantly, meaning was assigned to the materials used in each piece. This notion is the crux of Materialism. While symbolic, the work was not merely a collection of symbolic renderings. The materials themselves were symbolic. To use a phrase that’s been thrown around an awful lot, “The medium is the message.” For example, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez was rendered in telephone wires. “Dick” Cheney’s stormy visage was crafted in patriotic lapel pins and buck shot. Karl Rove in shredded emails. See a pattern?

While the COC work might be considered an extreme example of Materialism in practice, it’s not the exclusive representation of the concept. Materials needn’t steal the show as in the COC work. Materialism often plays a supporting role in storytelling, establishing meaning or defining aesthetic sensibilities for a body of work.

In the Co-Signed series, a mirror and baby-blue blinds pull convey the relative seediness of a roadside motel room. Pea gravel used in relief fashion recalls a driveway. Peanuts are decidedly worth catching on a nutsy truck. In any case, authentic materials are often more effective than the most polished rendering or impressionistic brush stroke when it comes to telling stories or conveying emotion.

This is not revolutionary-speak. At its core, Materialism is Symbolism. A movement secure in its Art History-ness. But this comparison is akin to a rhombus being a square, but a square not being a rhombus. Can you feel me? You see, Symbolism is a portrait of George W. Bush. A beautiful oil painting of the 43rd president at his desk. You can make out the oil rigs faithfully chugging away outside the picture window just over his right shoulder. There’s symbolism in those oil rigs. Materialism is a portrait of George W. Bush rendered in motor oil. And nothing but motor oil. And framed in matchbooks. There’s a difference.

Oh — and then there’s the idea of western civilization being uncontrollably obsessed with material items. Almost forgot about that part.

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