Technicolor

The veterans' protest outside the Massachusettes State House, this time in lomographic colour.



I'm not sure which one is more powerful. I really like the black and white. But there's something arresting about the red, white, and blue of those flags.

War. War Never Changes.

A protest of veteran affairs on the steps of the Massachusettes State House comprised of three generations of servicemen. Every time a car passed it would beep its horn, eliciting a great roar of approval.





Not pictured: the political huskers weaving their way through the crowds and handing out coffee and donuts on behalf of Senator So-And-So. It wouldn't be so bad if they actually had a tangible affiliation with the cause, but I'm pretty sure they were just trying to capitalise on a demographic opportunity.

Inked Up

Phew. I've been working on this piece for about five days straight. It should've been an easy task but I kept spraying over and re-working the "tattoos" until I was happy with them all.

Stormhobo, 60 x 90 cm
Enamel and marker on particleboard
Painted July 2009

Simple premise, really. The props and pose are derived from a photo of a homeless Vietnam veteran while the quotes and adornments are taken from the helmets of American G.I.'s.

Here are some detail shots:






I was toying with the idea of a graffiti-on-graffiti deal and the stormtrooper provided a clean drawing template. I guess its also a commentary on the sad state of this day and age -- we are more likely to recognise a pop culture reference than to identify significant events in our own immediate history.

I can't say I'm above this either -- when I was a kid all I wanted was a lightsaber and Marty McFly's hoverboard from "Back to the Future II".