the street is our gallery

The work titled : ‘Soulmates’ shows Donald Trump (President of the United States) on the left and Bakr al-Baghdadi (leader of the Islamic State) on the right. Both have turned their back to one another but are united on a giant dark red heart. The idea of Lapiz was to show the similarities of these seemingly opposing identities and ideologies. They have far more in common than one might think:

-Extreme simplification of reality, which divides the world in ‘black-and-white’, ‘we’ against ‘them’ etc.

-Convinced that they are right/ speaking for the people.

-Authoritarian rebellion against the ruling system (‘the West’ and ‘the establishment’) which in their view does not represent the majority of the people.

-Abolishing democracy and its liberties.

-Reactionary ideas: authoritarian view, anti-liberalism, anti-feminism, patriarchy, traditional gender roles.

-Conspiracy theories which draws them as victims: Their own culture is threatened by an invasion of ‘The West’ / ‘Immigrants’.

Fighting against refugees (displacement of people / ‘Muslim ban’)

And as the artist says very successfully, the most frightening of all: They both believe they are good people.

Title: Soulmates

Technique: hand-cut stencil on wood panel (size 100 x 100 cm)