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Acrylic paint on 3 sheets of 24"x32" plexiglass. Date: July 2024.
In my last few paintings I have used symbolism extensively to help express various concepts. This is very common in most creative mediums, litrature, music, theater, visual arts, etc.
One of the first things that had an enormous influence on me creatively and intellectually was the 1968 movie "2001 Space Odyssey" by Stanley Kubrick. The movie is considered one of the best, if not the best science fiction movies of all time.
One of the central figures in the move is HAL 9000, a sentient computer (AI) in control of the spacecraft. The image representing HAL in the movie is a red camera lense. This lense image (HAL) is omnipresent through out the spacecraft. I used this camera lense motief as a central part of this painting.
Another symbol in my painting is the image of Uncle Sam in the poster by James Montgomery Flag. This World War I recruiting poster has become a national symbol of the United States federal government.
I rendered the image of Uncle Sam on an array of horizontal blinds with the lense image peaking out from behind the blinds. These blinds symbolise the same concept as the curtain did in hiding the "Wizard of Oz" in the 1939 movie of the same name. The Wizard secretly controlling all of Oz from behind the curtain.
Behind the lense image, blinds, and Uncle Same is a representation of a circuit board symbolising the technological tools used today.
One last item is a small microphone attached to the front of the painting.
Now I've described the symbols in the painting. What does the bundling of all this symbology mean? I decided to see if AI could figure it out. I asked the three major public AI applications. The X artificial intelligence product had the best and most complete interpretation. Though Google's Gemini, and Microsoft's ChatGPT had similar answers.
I asked Grok, the X artificial intelligence product what the bundling of all this symbology means in my painting?
Grok's Answer
The bundling of these symbols in your painting likely creates a cohesive narrative around several interconnected themes:
Surveillance and Control: The combination of HAL's lens, representative of surveillance technology, with Uncle Sam, a figure of governmental authority, suggests a theme of pervasive oversight. This could be interpreted as a critique of state or corporate surveillance, where technology is used to monitor and control individuals under the guise of protection or efficiency.
Deception and Hidden Truths: The use of blinds reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz, combined with these elements, suggests that the real power or control might be obscured from the public eye. This could imply that what we see (government, technology) is not necessarily what truly governs our lives, pointing towards deeper, perhaps more sinister, forces at play.
Technological Domination: The circuit board and the microphone add layers to this narrative, symbolizing the infrastructure of modern surveillance and communication technologies. They imply that technology not only enables this control but might itself be a form of omnipresent, silent power, influencing or dictating human behavior and societal structures.
Manipulation of Loyalty and Identity: Uncle Sam traditionally calls for loyalty and service to the state. Placed within this context, it might critique how such loyalty or identity can be manipulated or coerced through technological means or governmental policy, questioning where true allegiance or identity lies in a highly technologized society.
Questioning Authority and Reality: Together, these symbols prompt the viewer to question the nature of authority, the authenticity of presented realities, and the ethical boundaries of technological advancement. It might ask, "Who or what is really in control?" and "At what cost do we embrace technological progress?"
Your painting, therefore, could be seen as a commentary on the intersection of technology, government, and individual freedom, suggesting a world where personal autonomy might be under threat from an alliance between technological surveillance and governmental power. It invites reflection on how these elements shape our lives, often invisibly, and whether we are truly aware or in control of the forces influencing our existence. This use of symbolism not only enriches the artwork's narrative but also engages the viewer in a dialogue about power, privacy, and the essence of modern society.
You can learn more about my journey to Pointillism here.