Thoughts on Democracy: The Freedom to Vote
-
Studio: Mirko Ilic
Creative/Art Direction, Concept, Design, FabricationMixed media
In 2016, I responded to the challenge to reinterpret Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms with an emphasis on the freedom to vote. Would a different style of voting have changed the election? What if the ballot was made from bubble wrap?
This led to series of work that ran parallel to the objective and focused on the broader political and cultural climate, at the time. The shootings in Nice, Paris and in the Orlando nightclub had happened, all on the heels of Brexit in Great Britain. There was exasperation and despair happening across the globe.
-
I used bubble wrap to create a series of flags, wherein I injected 4,600 plastic bubbles with acrylic paint using hypodermic needles. As paint was injected, drips would result, making the flags seem as if they were crying. The work was done in participation and performance with others, so that every bubble that was filled with color represented each participant’s “vote” as an expression of their personal grief and struggle with the political climate. The final work was showcased at the New York Tattoo Show, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
