This is Why We Do Art

One reason to make art is to respond to the world. Let's face it: the world (at present anyway!) is pretty messed up and very confusing. Making art can certainly be a way to order your thoughts, express concern, channel outrage (or even hope!) and at the very least, vent some pent up steam. Since The Orange Menace ascended to the throne of The Unpresidented, artists and writers and musicians (and yes! comedians!) have been venting and expressing and that's a good thing.
The piece above is a case in point. The phrase "kompromat" is Russian for "Compromising Material": essentially blackmail. I made this piece as a way of commenting on all the information pouring out about the present administrations ties to Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Let's face it- there is plenty of evidence that the election was hacked and influenced with the "help" of foreign agents. And there is that disturbing dossier full of weird allegations about "golden showers" and other compromising materials...
I worked with gold and other sumptuous fabrics as both Putin and The Donald enjoy luxurious shiny things and a life of opulence. And I wanted the piece to reference heraldic banners as the present administration clearly sees itself as an imperial presidency. Let them eat cake, indeed!
I also employed semi-Cyrillic lettering that was still easily readable but looks vaguely foreign. I thank the curator of the show "Mincing Words" with suggesting the word "kompromat"! The perfect word at the right time. (Thank you, Martha Lewis).
It's worth remembering that Russian artists have labored under restrictions and censorship for years. Speaking one's mind during the Soviet Era was seriously dangerous and artists daring to produce music or art or books that were considered decadent or not for the glory of the Russian people or government were banished to Siberia or killed. Things aren't much better recently; think of the Russian rock band Pussy Riot. They were jailed but continue to make art, music and revolution. We consider these events occur in distant countries, under repressive regimes... until it happens here.
I am deeply horrified and troubled by the rise in hate crimes, the repression of a free press, the belief in fake news and the passing of bizarre laws (such as the one in North Dakota that was to allow drivers to run over people if they were in roadways protesting. Yikes!) Our democracy is being sorely tested and our rights are being eroded. (Why is it that the rethuglicans only like to protect SOME rights- like the right to bear arms?) I think- no, I KNOW- it's an especially important time to exercise our freedom of speech.
So... the only response possible is to make art. Viva La Revolution!