Obama...a joke?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/05/obama-as-joker-poster

Posters of Obama with the jokers face (form Batman), in particular Heath Ledgers latest creepiest version have recently been plastered around Los Angeles and other parts of America. Using street art as their medium the widely unknown ‘artists’ have chosen to attack Barrack Obama. This is a wise use of the medium and directly conflicts with the street art by Shepard Fairey which was widely popular during Obama’s election campaign. This, no matter what the agenda of the people who created this, is a striking image. This is because of the juxtaposing images places directly on top of each other. Firstly Obama, whose images, mainly due to his election campaign represent something strong, powerful, reliable and safe. Secondly, the joker’s face, associated with menace, chaos and fear. By superimposing one on top of another we are asked to question each image, for what we really know of it, in this case Obama. Though this image does not seem strong enough to combat the iconic status that Fairey’s image has propelled Obama to, and the general public of America still on the whole idolise their new president.

The guardian, accuses this image of being racist, minstrel like, though in reverse. And though I can see the connection in the visual styles I feel this is more of a political attack, through a cleverly used medium, though perhaps with a rather crude image.

A Duck for Darwin

'A Duck for Darwin' is the main exhibit currently on display at the Baltic Contemporary Art Museum in Newcastle. The exhibition is by a group of contemporary artists exploring Darwin's evolutionary thinking, and tries to capture the essence of evolution. Though the outcomes these artists created is incredible, what struck me the most is how the vast amounts of research was captured perfectly in a final visual result, and though they may stand alone, what they really are are a visual summary of the research behind them. I found this concept inspirational as, as a designer this is what to strive for. Despite this revelation, which has struck me before, though not quite a strongly, I seemed to have no emotional reaction to this exhibit. Perhaps because of its scientific nature.

I did however have a much stronger reaction to another exhibit, ' Don't let the bastards cheer you up' by Harland Miller, a series referred to as Bad weather paintings. A series of dust covers for book jackets for penguin books had been painted and adapted to relate to the North East, where miller himself grew up. I found that they had a strong impact on me, and commanded the rest of the gallery into a respectful silence. Distinctly capturing, certainly the grey of the North East as it was perceived in the past. However it is difficult to say whether they commanded such emotions as I experience these perceptions on a daily basis.