If you were out and about last weekend, you might have
noticed Donald Trump on his knees, wearing bondage gear and a ball-gag, leaning
against various city street signs. The risqué image is a project by Rochester-based
street artist Ax, who is known for adorning walls with stenciled political and
social commentary.
The project included four stenciled duplicates of the image,
spray-painted on plywood, and bolted to street signs in different locations
downtown.
Ax also posted a picture of the work, which he is calling
“Control,” on his Instagram
account, inviting people to find the Trumps and interact with them: “4 of
these are bolted up in the city, 10 pins attached to the backs of each one.
Grab a pin and take a photo of yourself showing the president who is really in
control.”
As much as the
Trump camp would love to silence criticism in art by defunding and
condemning it, they can hardly prevent all of it. And street art and graffiti
remain, arguably, the most immediate and democratic means of communicating a
political or social message.
“When I dreamed the piece up, I wanted to create a physical
representation of giving the power to the people … and I also just wanted to
shut up his mouth,” Ax says. “The Trump news of the day when I first started
working on it was all about him leaking secret information to the Russians in
the Oval Office. It just made me want to pull in the reins.”
Ax’s original post has received hundreds of likes and mostly
positive comments, and Ax says that a few people have sent him pictures of themselves
with the pieces. “Someone told me that they biked downtown to look for them,”
he says. “Another person said that their ‘Facebook feed was freaking out over
this,’ and I actually saw a Facebook friend, someone that doesn’t know about my
alter ego, take a pic of the Goodman one.”
There’s also been a
reaction on Reddit, including the suggestion that Putin should be next to
Trump with a paddle.
Still, street art is by nature both ephemeral and open to its
audience’s reproach. “All of them were broken within three hours,” Ax says with
a laugh.
It’s unknown if the vandals were angry at the depiction of
the president or just wanted to kick him.
Ax posted a
follow-up image of one of the busted Trumps, now decapitated, which
received more likes and laughs.
“Yo, where’s his head?” someone
wondered.
“Kathy Griffin has it,” came the rejoinder.
This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2017.
Rebecca would you state for the record that if these “artworks” starting popping up in public places with President Obama’s, or Hillary Clintons head that you would defend this as artistic expression? Or is this a freedom granted only to the left?
I personally find art or theatre that glorifies killing or torturing elected officials, regardless of their views, to be deeply offensive.
When funny girl Kathy Griffin was shown holding the bloody imitation of President Trump’s head, his eleven year old son Barron failed to see the humor and in fact was extremely traumatized by the whole thing. He’ll be carrying that image with him for life. Perhaps funny guy “artist” Ax should send Barron a big photo of his latest masterpiece to reinforce Barron’s shock. I’m sure Ax and many other sensitive caring “progressives” could all then share a good hearty laugh. Power to the people!
BTW Ax, since you believe the president was “leaking secret information to the Russians in the Oval Office”, please provide proof supporting that news narrative that you were so easily and naively duped into buying. Since none is available, dare I say you are operating from a false premise?
If another artist’s sick creation showed Barrack Obama being lynched, I sincerely doubt that writer Rebecca Rafferty would be equally entertained and close the article in such a jovial manner. That would violate today’s leftist media precept that only conservatives are worthy of unbounded artistic humiliation.
Wow! I took some time off from monitoring the comments here so I could enjoy the Jazz Fest – and in my absence, several of you decided to get in a fist fight with one another instead of discussing the issue at hand. (Seriously: is it really possible to fly into a rage over someone’s typo on a website?) I’ve deleted all of your posts. If you want to hurl insults at one another, there are plenty of websites that welcome them. Go there, please.
While Trump is undoubtedly a dispicable individual, this “art” is WAY over-the-top.
And even as a liberal, I have to agree with those who argue that had this been done with an image of Obama, accusations of racism would be flying fast and thick.
I think it’s despicable that this paper even gave this “story” any light. Kind of a way to do what Kathy Griffin did, but blame it on the (artist???). Even the title suggests violence towards the president. Keep fanning the flames, City. Trump is not only the president, he’s everyone’s president, like it or not.
Hi Fgf!
Yes, I will state on the record that I would consider an artwork, no matter the subject, to be artistic expression.
When we talk about artistic expression, we also generally discuss where it arose from. In this case, Ax has created a piece that flips the idea of control and power (google “BDSM” and “bondage and discipline” if you’d like to learn more!).
In the many cases that I’ve seen effigies of Obama during his presidency (and yes, it’s important to be critical of any elected official, and I am personally critical of him in many ways) the artists chose to tap into racist tropes through caricature or by “lynching” the effigy. So while it may be an artistic expression, the ideas behind it are also worth considering when we discuss it.
And I’ve personally posted and applauded, on my personal social media accounts, some street art that is critical of HRC in ways that resonate with me (and they were criticisms of her policies and actions, not just weak ad hominem attacks on her appearance or genitalia). As I was in Philly for the DNC when I saw the street art, it wasn’t relevant to write about it here.
Is Ax’s piece offensive? That’s entirely up to each viewer and what they bring to the table. And as with any artwork, especially with public art, you’re welcome to your interpretation.
My interpretation is that it’s silly to get up in arms defending the man in the gilded tower, who doesn’t need our protection from a spray painted portrayal of himself bound and gagged, or even a headless depiction of himself. This is a man whose policies stand to harm a lot of people in this country and worldwide. Long term violence is still violence.
Someone also lamented Barron Trump having to see Griffin’s photo. That’s fine. Defend Barron, he is a kid. But did you also concern yourself with how Sasha and Malia felt when they saw effigies of their father lynched? Are you concerned with the children of innocent black men assassinated in the streets?
I’ll just close this by reminding everyone that art also falls under the first amendment’s protection.
Although this story is poorly written with an extremely poorly worded title, if you read why the artist created this, it is non-violent. Gags and harnesses are commonly used for an expression of submission.
The artist stated that he wants Trump to submit to the people. The artist’s name is Ax. He is not implying to behead the president like Kathy Griffin. The second broken demonstration was found by the artist, not created.
Both sides of this argument are way too quick to judge without proper examination.
Although on the more Agro-expressive side, their is nothing wrong in this artwork. There are many depictions of world leaders bowing in submission. Many groups who find this form of submission about humbling themselves to power, not forcing.
Why does race, gender, or any other label than political and art have to be brought into this. I believe people cheered when the statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down.
THIS IS NOT ART!!! And Rebecca, your comments are just what you would expect from a leftie. Try to justify your actions and beliefs when they are so out of line. Your twisting and turning was painful to read, but in the end your reasoning doesn’t pass the smell test.
Unaffiliated — Title’s just a pun.
But you’re right, BDSM culture — though it may shock some — isn’t about violence. Trump is just portrayed here as a sub and that is all about discipline and humility. And ironically it’s possible that the work ended up headless because someone who likes Trump didn’t like the work.
I’m an open minded person. I don’t prejudge what I think is or is not art. Once “experiencing the art” common sense and conscience will tell me pretty clearly.
The person that did this obviously doesn’t even understand what the Trump Presidency is all about. Trump is fighting for the freedom of all Americans. Loosening the grip that government has over us. Lower our taxes. Create jobs (jobs mean freedom). Improving our relationship in the world community.
Calling this “control” just shows us how nuts this guy is….. Now that’s funny
Rebecca thanks for responding. To view the violent displays of “Art” regarding Donald Trump without considering the hatred and frequently violent actions of his supporters is not possible.
They are interconnected , with each fueling the other.
It is not the “Man in the gilded tower ” that I am worried about . Our Democracy is only viable when we accept election results and do not encourage or engage in violence against our elected officials.
I am actually worried for this country.
Sorry meant to say hatred and violent actions of Trumps detractors.
Art is, as Art causes us to feel. Feel it, self-reflect; then explore the exact opposite of your present feeling. Now, you’re using Art to open your mind. Open your mind and begin a heart-to-heart dialogue with others.
Seek to understand, scratch the surface, explore entire scope of subject, breadth and depth.
Art bridges divides, creates understanding.
“Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding.” –Albert Einstein
I lost all respect I had for Megan Carter this morning.
I hope these were taken down as I would hope they are not sanctioned by the City.
Ax artwork around Rochester is a positive sign that someone is alive and thinking.
Lunatic Left. This imagery is not appropriate on ANY level. It is especially not appropriate to for my child to see ANY sexually related content in public.
Disliking elected officials is an American tradition. Citizens have been outspoken about flaws and offenses since the country began, and that is part of our expression and right.
But the way this statement is presented, carries an air that everyone (who counts) agrees with the artist. Hate on a stick. Does this frustration come from piled-on media commentary, or the actual choices that the president has made?
The artist spoke of frustration with voting corruption, but were there any complaints on the Other Candidate’s long history of corruption, and known association with Russia?
We have evidence that previous leaders sold uranium rights and weapons to our opponents, but the only protesting seemed individuals’ videos, usually watched by people in agreement.
In publications and design, the identifiable likeness of a person requires a model release. Public officials may be considered fair game, but the source photos that artists use are usually infringing on the rights of a professional photographer or news outlet.
Trump’s television history could place him under Celebrity Rights (California 1985 and 12 states)– with his imagine still holding commercial value, and was libelous. This was street art, but undoubtedly there were people who wanted to buy it.
Let’s spend our energies on our country, which has been threatened by several opposing countries and groups, and is $20 trillion in debt.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/copothr.html