With the new presidency of Donald Trump dividing opinion in America, many modern artists have reached for the same metaphorical paintbrush to show their outrage at his election. The highly controversial Kathy Griffin portrait in 2017 by Tyler Shields, caused outrage, as she was pictured holding a fake bloodied head of the American President. She was brave enough to create a piece of art that shocked. This reflects the views of DADA artist Marcel Duchamp,...
With the new presidency of Donald Trump dividing opinion in America, many modern artists have reached for the same metaphorical paintbrush to show their outrage at his election. The highly controversial Kathy Griffin portrait in 2017 by Tyler Shields, caused outrage, as she was pictured holding a fake bloodied head of the American President. She was brave enough to create a piece of art that shocked. This reflects the views of DADA artist Marcel Duchamp, as he believed that artwork that did not intimidate and unnerve was undeserving of being created and called art. The backlash was immense, many branding the comedian a national terrorist, but she still does not regret the photo, believing she was approaching a serious issue in a satirical way. She generated arguments and brought the president’s own attitudes into public question.
DADAists also used irony and ridicule to promote their artwork, using the most controversial means necessary to generate discussion. The DADA movement led the way for surrealism, as many artists started practising in this style soon after the war.
