The paintings and drawings in 'They Win' express the artist's rage and frustration with the political appropriation and exploitation of tragedy. Sean Taggart considers himself a member of a'new left'-- the left out.
Paintings and Drawings by Sean Taggart
*Sponsored by Miller High Life
Press release follows:
The paintings and drawings in 'They Win' express the
artist's rage and frustration with the political
appropriation and exploitation of tragedy. Sean
Taggart considers himself a member of a'new left'--
the left out. He uses his art to speakout against the
cynical abuses of power committed in the name of
fighting terrorism, and the complicity of both parties
in encouraging the exchange of civilliberties for
imaginary safety.
In his paintings, the artist references pop cultural
phenomena such as trading cards (the 'War Hedz'
series) and cartoons, using a simplified visual
vocabulary to make a profound statement. In the
eponymous 'They Win,' Taggart uses banal, kitsch
imagery presented in a style he calls 'sarcastic
realism' to express disgust and loathing for those who
have used the attacks of 9/11 to manipulate the
American people.
The drawings in this show employ a technique first
popularized by political cartoonist Robert Minor, a
socialist/anarchist whose work appeared in various
newspapers and 'The Masses' magazine in the early 20th
century. The content of the drawings is less explicit
that that of a political cartoon, but the message is
as deeply felt.
Opening reception: Saturday, September 11, 2004 7-10pm
McCaig-Welles Gallery
129 Roebling Street (between N. 4th and N. 5th
Streets)