Political Art: Donald Trump as an Inspiration to Artworks
The anti-trump campaign has not stopped since he announced in joining the United States presidential election in 2015. Now, the next election is on its way this November. Are we sick of seeing critical art inspired by Donald Trump yet?
Here are some examples you might recognise from the media:
But if the majority of people created these artworks ain’t in favour of Trump. Why are we seeing his face everywhere?
Art with a voice
Trump’s in denial of everything has held against him, such as repeatedly accused media of spreading Fake News, could be his way to trying to get away from all allegations. Art can create a dialogue among the public, and the artists have used art to challenge some of his policies and character.
Art is not objective, it can be political even without intentionally trying to be.
Political Art is also not new, influential artworks such as Andy Warhol’s ‘Electric Chair’ as a reflection of human rights and death sentence. Another good example will be British Artist David Shrigley, who often create art that is humorous and political.
Banksy is also a famous example of Political Art. Recently British Rapper Stormzy has worn a union jack stab-proof jacket made by Banksy, at his Glastonbury debut in 2019. Brilliantly aligned with the artist's message, this work is a critique of the challenges of knife crime in the UK and a reflection of racial inequality in the criminal justice system.
Controversy
A questionable character with such controversy is often very popular in media. North Korean’s leader Kim Jong-un is evidence of this.
Provoking people’s emotion to win presentation campaign is Trump’s forte since he elected the human division has only increased. Other than the feminist group find him speaks in degrading women. He is especially dangerous in the topic of race, such as vocally blaming China for the pandemic and cause distress of the Asian American community, his immigration policy to build a wall to stop Mexican from coming into the United States, and finally, the way he handles Black Lives Matter movement. By fuelling people with more hatred either against him or supports him if they have the same political opinion, he creates anger in the community.
Why Political Art matters
I believe these artists have a right to influence and raise awareness of humanity. It is especially important in the time of democracy. If we stay silent nothing is ever going to change.
References
Baby blimp “giving Trump a taste of his own medicine” says designer Matt Bonner. Calum Lindsay at dezeen, 13th July 2018.
Banksy: Art As A Political Weapon
How the Most Iconic Illustrations of the Trump Era Were Created
Andy Warhol, Electric Chair, 1964
DAVID SHRIGLEY ON ART, LAUGHTER AND POLITICS
‘Not racist at all’: Donald Trump defends calling coronavirus the ‘Chinese virus’
U.S. President calls Black Lives Matter protesters ‘looters’ and ‘anarchists’
‘This is just the beginning’: women who marched against Trump vow to fight on
