The definition of Hubris is being out of touch with reality and
overestimating one's own competence or capabilities, especially for
people in positions of power. Hubris is dangerous and often has tragic
consequences. This certainly applies to our country as the dominant
geo-political and cultural power of the past half-century. Corporate
greed, its influence on our politics, and the willful ignorance of the
American people are having dangerous and devastating global results.
The Iraq war - a war of choice, the Upper Big Branch Mine – with multiple
safety violations, and the Deep Water Horizon - extreme drilling for oil
with no advances in safety or clean-up techniques since the Exxon
Valdez, are all examples of American hubris. These were news events,
which I listened to every day while working in the studio between 11/09
to 6/10 when these works were made.
Without premeditation, these three news stories have influenced these
paintings.
|