I use cod heads for my human animals. It is maybe not obvious at first because I search for my models among the stacks of dried cod heads hung up on scaffolds where they wait to be exported. I draw the heads and use in my art so every head is a real portrait.
Dried cod heads are an endless source of diverse expressions.
I perceive the cod head as a symbol for the young Icelandic Republic and the contradiction between the abundance of modern times and the poverty of the old. And also, of course, for the ridiculous inequality and economic and political corruption. In that way, it mirrors the situation in the rich western world.
Human bodies with animal heads are an ancient imagery. They appear in Egyptian and Greek mythology and closer in time Disney gives human qualities to its animals –humanizing the animal. I reverse this by animalizing the human being, or more directly, the Alfa human.
On the Exhibition
All the 19 paintings are from 2015-2016, painted especially for this exhibition. I use acrylics on a Graphic film with a heavy paper back. This exhibition is a part of the world I have been creating since 2000 called “Codhead” This exhibition is number XII. My art is political and narrative and its subject is the misuse of power in the rising plutocracy and the most dangerous epidemic to infest the human race: GREED!
The Artwork of the exhibition "Rat Race":
“Power” alias Mr. Trumps Cabinet. A row of 7 portraits arranged in pairs around a centre piece. A portrait often expresses the position of an individual, in society. This can be seen all over. Rows of portraits where ideological and material power is projected and legitimatization of power is emphasized – inherited power that is transferred from one person to the next. The medieval aristocracy, kings and emperors expressed themselves in this way. Also dictators such as leaders in the late Soviet Union. Nowadays we see rows of such portraits in the corridors of the big banks and in the chambers of ruling political parties and of course thoroughly groomed portraits of social leaders for news and social media. A visitor in my studio nicknamed this portrait series Mr. Trumps Cabinet.
“Rat Race” 8 individual paintings Mad search for material wealth and social power. Just for me! The gratification is always ahead of him. Like in the story of the donkey that had a pole fastened to his saddle and a carrot fastened to it so it dangled in front of him. The animal kept on walking for ever. Nothing is as basic, mindless and uncultured as insatiable greed.
“Party Card” Talent, education, genius! When the Alfa animals of the human herd delegate government jobs, positions, tasks or projects, these are the qualities they look for. Right? No, it is the Party Card.
“Dance of the Wounded Cod” Gutted and filleted cod. Dancing in a froth of a blood red sea. No more words but I need a composer to compose the music. See more at Codhead.net