"Contemporary mass cynicism can be linked to two different sources: the failure of twentieth-century utopian ideologies, and the perception that the exploitation of labor, competition, and war are inevitable and irreversible. Mass cynicism results from the dissolution of social solidarity. Globalization and the systemic precariousness of the labor market resulting from neoliberal deregulation have imposed competition as the inescapable, generalized mode of relation among actors. Workers, once linked by a sense of social solidarity and common political hope, are now forced to think in cynical terms: survival of the fittest." - Franco Berardi "The Uprising" (2012)

The series of digital collage paintings below are composed almost entirely of portions of scanned print ads of the mid-90's. I wanted paintings composed entirely of visuals and words created by the advertising industry. Things I did not make up or exaggerate. It's all from the horse's mouth. These collages are a form of detournement, a recomposition of visual elements in such a way as to break the spell, break the Blue Pill (The Matrix) effects of what Situationists call, the Spectacle. Breaking the spell of a consumer fetish obsession and the psychic and environmental damage it wrecks is a first step toward reclaiming our Earth from the 1%'s neoliberal nightmare. Revolt and reclaim!

Prices for prints of the digital paintings below can be obtained here.

I am hoping the 99% sees the light, now, and realizes, yes we can create our own sustainable planet with a war-less world of egalitarian sharing. Capitalism and profit are obsolete. Not one of the 1%'s policy initiative matches the needs for a sustainable planet. Growth on a finite planet is over. Too many people, not enough resources. Their solution is more. More growth, more money, more people, more more more. The above advertising is meant to make us conform to a flywheel of more when what we need is creativity, sustainable design and a sharing society. This is an anathema to people to whom profit is god. That is why they want surveillance and Police State, endless war, phony terror, austerity. To crush our spirit with what they have determined for us as inevitable. Rubbish! Worker collectives and democracy in the workplace. Direct democracy for self rule. And a permanent sidelining of the 1% and their corporations from any ability to shape the future. The 1%'s time is done. It is now time for the 99%'s sharing creativity to reign. Solidarity!