Porn VS Presidents

By Nichole Camarillo

Admittedly, I may not be the most patriotic person. Even the little things don't receive much enthusiasm from me. I don't like baseball. Apple pie creeps me out. I haven't seen a fireworks display in who knows how many Fourth of July's. I mean, even terrorists can get behind a colorful explosion, right? Right. My point is, even if you're coming to me with something I am interested in like, let's say... some paintings? But these paintings are of... hmm... United States Presidents, maybe? You have a time frame even Speedy Gonzalez couldn't break through, before my attention span has ran for the hills never to return. Yeah.

Having recently came across such presidential pieces and NOT running, I figured the least I could do is showcase them for you guys. Why did I not run, you ask? What is it about these paintings of our country's leaders that didn't bore me to death? Well, if your attention span is longer than mine, and you can think back to the title of this blog post, you may just have your answer. Ready? You're not ready. ...Okay, ready? On three. One... Tw-

I know, I know. I didn't count to three. Oh, and yes, you did just see Abraham Lincoln receiving fellatio. Creeeepy. The woman in the painting is the artist who painted it. Creepierrrr. Nevertheless, if there is anything that can sustain my flighty focus, twisted art and sex would definitely top the list. *shrug

Justine Lai's series of paintings entitled 'Join Or Die', are a collection of portraits of the artist in various sexual positions with United States Presidents (in chronological order). In these portraits, Justine hopes to "locate something intimate and mortal". So, if you haven't been keeping up, humanizing elite historical figures means you must have sex with them in your head and then show everyone what went down.
Aaand how! ;D

Sure to ruffle some feathers and raise some eyebrows, including herself in this vulnerable mess is Justine's way of playing a fair game.

Although the artist explains herself and her art very clearly, that doesn't make me want to call kinky power-trip any less. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with a kinky power-trip. I'm just saying... Call something what it is.

So, what do you think... Is the artist truly touching on her so-called 'playful', 'tender' and 'humanizing act' with these portraits? Or is she exploiting these men and their roles at all costs to resolve some of her own personal issues?

...Mmhmm. Well, either way... I enjoyed them. :)
For more in this series, or for more about the artist, please visit her website.




1 comments:

raw said...

yes! I'm loving these!