The Second Coming of Trudeau... Sunny Ways. (2018)
The completed painting unframed and not matted is 25 inches tall by 39 inches wide.
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The completed painting unframed and not matted is 25 inches tall by 39 inches wide.
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The reasons why I painted this artwork and it's background context.
For anyone who follows politics it should come as no surprise that there has been a long history in western countries of 'organized religion' being closely pandered to, manipulated by and associated with right wing or conservative political parties and politicians. Prior to the Canadian Federal Election of 2015, Conservative government MP Wai Young made the metaphorical comparison between Jesus Christ and his Harper government. He claimed that the Harper Government by it's anti-crime bills and bill C-51 (anti-terrorism) legislation was doing 'Jesus work'. Wai Young later walked back his preposterous claims.
As a person raised in a 'Christian' home I would not compare the Harper Government's nine and a half year tenure with Jesus Christ or Christianity at all. Jesus Christ taught to love everyone, especially those that despised you. To care for humanity, to care for the environment and to uplift the downtrodden. For those that have forgotten the Harper Government's record already, it was one of the most obtuse, reactionary and secretive governments in Canadian history.
Mr. Harper co-wrote an essay paper in 1996-97 stating that the governmental system in Canada was a 'benign dictatorship'. He then proceeded to rule as such during his tenure as Canada's Prime Minister. The Harper Conservatives routinely stifled public criticism, ignored scientific facts and limited public access to government information. Routine government functions and actions were regularly veiled behind the privilege of the Privy Council. The Conservative ideological and monumental cuts to government programs and services (such as but not limited to, food inspectors and the deregulation of transportation rules) led directly to lawsuits against the Canadian Government for the government's indirect involvement in 17 deaths from listeria laden meat and 47 deaths in Lac-Megantic, Quebec from a train derailment. Both incidents could have been avoided if the Harper Government did not believe that for-profit-oriented industry could regulate itself. Those two horrific incidents killed 64 innocent Canadians and resulted in taxpayers paying hundreds of millions of dollars in court settlement payments to the victims' families.
After nine and a half years of Harper Conservative rule, many Canadians gladly voted his government out of office. The demise of Harper's 'benign dictatorship' brought collective joy and great relief to a majority of Canadians. To celebrate and commemorate Justin Trudeau's election victory and this collective joy, I painted "The Second Coming of Trudeau… Sunny Ways". It was created to show that people of 'faith' can and do relate to other non-conservative political parties. God is not exclusive to any one group or in whom God chooses to work through. I am not equating Justin Trudeau with Jesus Christ in my painting but I am using religious iconography to say that I think Justin's tenure (the second by a Trudeau) is a very positive change in ideological direction for Canada. I would argue that a 'Sunny Ways' governing approach is much closer to 'Christ-like-behaviour' in a secular government than a 'benign dictatorship' approach.
From my experience as an artist who focuses on political and social issues, the prejudice and friction which I face can be substantial at times. I've had curators and gallery managers tell me that they won't handle my artwork for fear of alienating patrons and customers. Still I choose to speak out with my art. The taboo of using 'religious' symbolism in secular art is nothing new and though we live in 2018 it is still an enormous obstacle to overcome. Doors close and minds plug up when imagery confronts a prejudiced mind. A majority of my artistic peers (artists and curators) prefer to paint or exhibit safe, non-threatening topics via their landscapes, portraiture and abstract works. There is little to no controversy to be found in those genres and it is respectfully their choice to practise their profession in their own way.
To close, I would like to remind people that throughout life we can find ourselves in situations where to stand apart is to be ostracized. Two historical examples come to mind in relation to my newest painting. One: Martin Luther, acting on conscience and conviction penned his 95 Theses and proclaimed them by nailing them to the door of the Whittenberg Castle's church. Without his bravery we might still remain in the dark ages of religion. Two: Edouard Manet confronted the art world's established conventions with his painting, "The Luncheon on the Grass" (1862). His painting was ridiculed and rejected by the Paris Salon of his day. Simultaneously it opened the door to modern art and a vast palette of blossoming artistic expression. I by no means equate myself to these two giants of history but I do use their legacies to build upon with my own art practise and principles.
For anyone who follows politics it should come as no surprise that there has been a long history in western countries of 'organized religion' being closely pandered to, manipulated by and associated with right wing or conservative political parties and politicians. Prior to the Canadian Federal Election of 2015, Conservative government MP Wai Young made the metaphorical comparison between Jesus Christ and his Harper government. He claimed that the Harper Government by it's anti-crime bills and bill C-51 (anti-terrorism) legislation was doing 'Jesus work'. Wai Young later walked back his preposterous claims.
As a person raised in a 'Christian' home I would not compare the Harper Government's nine and a half year tenure with Jesus Christ or Christianity at all. Jesus Christ taught to love everyone, especially those that despised you. To care for humanity, to care for the environment and to uplift the downtrodden. For those that have forgotten the Harper Government's record already, it was one of the most obtuse, reactionary and secretive governments in Canadian history.
Mr. Harper co-wrote an essay paper in 1996-97 stating that the governmental system in Canada was a 'benign dictatorship'. He then proceeded to rule as such during his tenure as Canada's Prime Minister. The Harper Conservatives routinely stifled public criticism, ignored scientific facts and limited public access to government information. Routine government functions and actions were regularly veiled behind the privilege of the Privy Council. The Conservative ideological and monumental cuts to government programs and services (such as but not limited to, food inspectors and the deregulation of transportation rules) led directly to lawsuits against the Canadian Government for the government's indirect involvement in 17 deaths from listeria laden meat and 47 deaths in Lac-Megantic, Quebec from a train derailment. Both incidents could have been avoided if the Harper Government did not believe that for-profit-oriented industry could regulate itself. Those two horrific incidents killed 64 innocent Canadians and resulted in taxpayers paying hundreds of millions of dollars in court settlement payments to the victims' families.
After nine and a half years of Harper Conservative rule, many Canadians gladly voted his government out of office. The demise of Harper's 'benign dictatorship' brought collective joy and great relief to a majority of Canadians. To celebrate and commemorate Justin Trudeau's election victory and this collective joy, I painted "The Second Coming of Trudeau… Sunny Ways". It was created to show that people of 'faith' can and do relate to other non-conservative political parties. God is not exclusive to any one group or in whom God chooses to work through. I am not equating Justin Trudeau with Jesus Christ in my painting but I am using religious iconography to say that I think Justin's tenure (the second by a Trudeau) is a very positive change in ideological direction for Canada. I would argue that a 'Sunny Ways' governing approach is much closer to 'Christ-like-behaviour' in a secular government than a 'benign dictatorship' approach.
From my experience as an artist who focuses on political and social issues, the prejudice and friction which I face can be substantial at times. I've had curators and gallery managers tell me that they won't handle my artwork for fear of alienating patrons and customers. Still I choose to speak out with my art. The taboo of using 'religious' symbolism in secular art is nothing new and though we live in 2018 it is still an enormous obstacle to overcome. Doors close and minds plug up when imagery confronts a prejudiced mind. A majority of my artistic peers (artists and curators) prefer to paint or exhibit safe, non-threatening topics via their landscapes, portraiture and abstract works. There is little to no controversy to be found in those genres and it is respectfully their choice to practise their profession in their own way.
To close, I would like to remind people that throughout life we can find ourselves in situations where to stand apart is to be ostracized. Two historical examples come to mind in relation to my newest painting. One: Martin Luther, acting on conscience and conviction penned his 95 Theses and proclaimed them by nailing them to the door of the Whittenberg Castle's church. Without his bravery we might still remain in the dark ages of religion. Two: Edouard Manet confronted the art world's established conventions with his painting, "The Luncheon on the Grass" (1862). His painting was ridiculed and rejected by the Paris Salon of his day. Simultaneously it opened the door to modern art and a vast palette of blossoming artistic expression. I by no means equate myself to these two giants of history but I do use their legacies to build upon with my own art practise and principles.
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March 21, 2018 the artist at work on his painting.