A strong link between politics and the visual arts, especially between different forms of visual art and political power, takes place across different cultural and historical periods and cultures. The visual arts take on both social and political dimensions, often being themselves a highly charged focus of debate and even a potential force of influence on socio-political change. This is true in several areas, such as painting, which is used to commenting on and critique politics and public life. It is also the case that painting is an important means through which artists make a living, by selling or simply displaying their work.
At times, political cartoons have also served to comment upon current political affairs. Political cartoons can have a dual impact: on the one hand, they entertain, as they usually show the less-serious side of politics; on the other, they also influence the audience to express their own political opinions. It is for this reason that political cartooning has become one of the most flexible medium of expressing political views, since artists have the chance to depict not just serious, but also humorous scenes and messages. Some of these cartoons are then published in newspapers and other media, creating a worldwide discussion about politics and society.
In more recent years, political art has experienced a surge in artistic production. In places like Chicago, Illinois, politically inspired art have become popular and a great platform for political discussions. Activist groups like the “Artists for Social Change” group, for instance, have produced a wide variety of political cartoons and murals that comment on current political events and socio-economic issues. Some of the works created by this group have even gone viral, going as viral as images on Facebook. These politically motivated works of political art have become powerful tools through which artists have promoted and discussed various political issues.
Political cartooning has often been used to show the different side of politics – good and evil, right and wrong. However, with the growing popularity of social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace, online social interaction has increased. This has also paved the way for more political artists to express themselves creatively through digital means, drawing inspiration from a plethora of artistic mediums. More artists are creating political cartoons and political murals online, creating a space for political debate and discussion, no matter how controversial the subject. They use a wide range of mediums such as cartoons, celebrities, video games, and television to bring politics to life through non-traditional means.
One example of an artist who expresses political ideas and topics through her work is Julia Tran, who draws political cartoons and political murals. She has created political cartoons and illustrations focusing on social change and the impact it has on everyday life. Tran’s work frequently features prominent political figures like Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and Hugo Chavez. Recently, she has also become highly sought after for her original street graffiti artwork which depicts the lives of street kids in Venezuela and Brazil.
A popular form of political cartooning today that brings politics to a new level is political cartoons and political murals. Many artists have developed a style of visually communicating with political and social issues and have put forward a new perspective by making their work more colloquial and accessible to a larger audience. Some of the most popular political cartoonists and political mural artists include Lucero, Hector Peiro, and Cleanth Nix. Lucero has become well known for his street posters that feature political cartoons of Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, and his street murals which are often street art based.
New York City artist collective known as Juicy Couture creates political cartoons and murals inspired by the United States government. Members of this collective not only use comic books, stickers, apparel, and jewelry to communicate political messages, but also to create visual works of art. In one case, they made a large banner featuring President George W. Bush and President Barrack Obama as drawn on the canvas. The pieces are designed to promote art by creating visual aids that are often controversial in nature. Other political artists have created political conceptual pieces in which they express ideas of socialism, capitalism, environmentalism, and liberalism.
Another way to express politics in your art is through the use of Arnolfini Portrait Proverbs. These famous early modernist paintings feature Italian baritone, composer, and lyricistzagatopieces. Portrait proverbs are meant to express an idea, or to provide an argument for a political stance or topic. Artists such as Arnolfini were asked to express opinions that the Italian government was unable to get across due to their limited vocabulary. Portrait proverbs are a unique way to present political discourse through the medium of painting.
