Urban Art Association

I don’t think possessive is necessarily appropriate here. Shouldn’t it be “Billionaire Lives Matter”?

[b

Yes. Please elaborate, including why you choose the imagery you used.

Interesting. So you are more fascinated by the process than the work itself. This is a pretty hot button statement piece, I mean graphic curio, to produce on a whim.

I put my work out there.

I don't need to explain it..

It's up to others to make of it what they will...

Personally I don’t get it.... Seems like a spin off “Black Lives Matter”, which is a movement about black ppl not getting the proper justice in certain situations in our justice system. Seems a little insensitive to the movement, cause what injustices do billionaires face? But hey, if y’all like it, go ahead and buy it...

Thank you for your comment...

That’s the kind interpretation.

The bad interpretation is that he embraces the deranged argument of the white nationalists (eg Tucker Carlson and Breitbard have been repeating this on the record) that BLM is yet another conspiracy funded by liberal deep pockets.

Or the pathetic interpretation is that he’s just fine with the deranged ones as long as he can make a buck out of selling stuff to them.

Under any of these possible interpretations, I would not touch his work even with a stick.

And now out of here -- too many free bumps for something that ain’t worth (albeit for once the discussion is about “art” rather than prices).

_______________

In the meanwhile: “Over the life course, about 1 in every 1,000 black men can expect to be killed by police.”
www.pnas.org/content/116/34/16793

You’re right, you don’t have to explain your work. But I really wish you would consider doing so, it makes a big difference when artists dig deep and share what an artwork means.

I’m not trying to be clever or annoying. I make work that contains words and statements, so this thread is interesting to me.

People aren’t attacking you personally, I think it’s the choice of symbolism and wording that has bothered people, then your response. I get the impression that the work wasn’t meant as a great political statement...?

But… I think when an artist uses or appropriates contemporary symbols, or slogans, they should be sensitive and aware of the deep significance that these symbols and slogans have for other people. Especially when political thinking and ideology is involved. Unless the intention is to invert them somehow.

Artists that use slogans and symbols with political overtones are hyper critical with themselves. Agonising over what the words mean, or how they could be interpreted when they are released into the world. Otherwise what’s the point in making a statement? You are going to be asked questions and get critiqued when you dabble with contemporary political symbols.

I personally think artists have a social responsibility when the work is political.

Have you considered that the piece is actually more in the area of propaganda than art? The elements are loaded with significant meaning. Aside from the obvious ones, even the barbed wire combined with the fist has another very overt meaning.

There are clearly from the comments above, a number of different readings of this artwork, and I think people are genuinely interested to know why you made it and what you're saying, precisely because it is provocative. Ok, maybe this was never meant to be taken too seriously, but I think we can see the symbols chosen are taken quite seriously by other people.

Art and politics...

True, so what’s your mission statement?

Looks like the inks are arriving today to finish these.... Just had conformation from the courier....