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“Freedom: Courtesy of Exxon” 2019 18” x 24” Mixed Media on Canvas
How do dictators stay in power? It’s usually a smorgasbord of fear, oppression, intimidation and violence. Also in that mix is money. In the case of Saddam Hussein, the money allowing him to repress his people and stay in power came from oil. Oil companies as a result became a de-facto sponsor of Saddam’s actions by doing business with him. This series portrays a tongue in cheek take on propaganda posters, each of them with a portrait of Saddam bearing a Saddam approved message in Arabic (this one is Freedom) side by side with its’ corporate sponsor.