Artists blend mainstream with humor to create visual
‘erotica’
Latest Kerckhoff Gallery exhibition highlights political and
social satire
By Barbara E. Hernandez
Daily Bruin Staff
What could possibly be funny about digging graves or car bombs?
Perhaps that’s what artist Mark Januzelli is trying to say in his
new show, at the Kerckhoff Art Gallery, "Herring Erotica," a work
of political and social satire.
The idea of having a cartoon figure drawn into various
Associated Press news photos, often in humorous ways may cause some
viewers moments of anger. Yet, if they look closely, some things
are not as simple as they seem.
"I want audiences to grab the reality of the situation, from
that they’ll get something out of it," says Januzelli, a senior art
student. "The idea is to exaggerate it, almost to the point of
ridiculing it."
Using elements of popular social and political cartooning,
Januzelli attempted to bring humor to social issues. But there’s
just a little more than humor to the caricature.
In one lithograph, the cartoon figure is dressed as a
construction worker backed by the sign "New World Construction:
We’re building dreams" while two African Americans dig graves. The
irony of the cartoon juxtaposed with the two men in the picture
cannot be escaped.
The idea of lithographs came mainly from Januzelli’s desire to
keep the original quality of the work.
"It was the only way to blow it up to poster size," he says of
the small newspaper photos he used. "It was very tedious, too."
Januzelli’s other works run the gamut, from installation to
oils. All seem to take their toll on various aspects of media. In
one, a newspaper almost frozen, shines with muted and bold colors,
while a Xerox monitor appears to be exploding.
"I’m really trying to look at different perspectives," he says.
"It’s a real interest of mine now." Covering such controversial
figures as Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh, Januzelli tries to
express this point of view.
"Why not listen and decide the good and the bad," he says, "[We]
shouldn’t be so close-minded."
Another work of socio-political satire dominates the corner of
the gallery, causing many wanderers to stare.
Jennifer Kirchmann’s installation of "Icon" was a strangely
disturbing one.
Using images from many aspects of our society, from fashion
magazines, religion and the starving people in Africa, she unites
them into one being, the icon. The icon is then placed on T-shirts,
coffee mugs, clocks, puzzles and calendars.
Kirchmann, a senior art student, had a basic idea of what she
wanted to do. The imagery of a impossibly beautiful European model
nursing the world’s hungry, dressed like the Holy Virgin may be
hard to take.
"I was working on subtle coercion," she says, "I was blatantly
labeling the icon on stuff bought from souvenir shops, all very
graphic and overboard."
Kirchmann seemed to mull over her quote a moment. "I think I’m
being too specific."
The irony of Kirschner’s work is that she will probably get
orders for the very souvenirs she mocks.
ART: "Herring Erotica" by Mark Januzelli and "Icon" by Jennifer
Kirchmann. Now showing at the Kerckhoff Art Gallery. Opening
reception tonight at 5 p.m.