Utilizing his architectural and theatrical background, Dimitris Polychroniadis‘ Capital(ism) Makes Me Horny is a slutty, sarcastic ode to cash culture.
Courtesy of Dimitris Polychroniadis.
Despite its statement-like message, Polychroniadis’ piece actually poses a very volatile question. In a post-80s greed, post-OWS society, what is our relationship with capitalism exactly? Are we enlightened by the recent protest or do we yearn for the excess of the 80s? The answer may very lie within the piece itself.
The “Capital(ism) Makes Me Horny” signage serves as a sexy facade while the seemingly bloodsplattered fan represents an industrially crude and sacrificial underbelly. The miniature civilians, all drenched in red, give the facade a hint of seduction. But their demeanor also doubles as a detrimental aloofness.
Courtesy of Dimitris Polychroniadis.
Courtesy of Dimitris Polychroniadis.
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Comments
First of all, I disagree with the questions you bring up that you say this artwork is trying to get us to ask. I don’t think the piece is asking what our relationship with capitalism is. I think it’s boasting that we live in an amoral capitalist society where the idea of greed is more of a turn on than it is a turn off.
True capitalism, at least, as Adam Smith foresaw it, was a system that maintained a balance between it’s capitalist tenors and a moral code that forced people to treat each other ethically. We don’t live in that world. Not even a little bit.
Second, I also disagree with the idea of a “post-OWS society.” While OWS may have seemed like a significant movement at the time, it was a leaderless, disorganized slumber party that took on too many causes for the movement to actually carry any political weight. To refer to modern society as “post-OWS” grants the OWS movement far more credit than it deserves. If anything, OWS was a small outburst in a growing societal resentment towards corporate greed. It was a mere blip in modern history–a symptom of a resentful, angry public acting up… like a bad rash.
Finally, I would just like to add that it’s really cool that you guys here at Quiet Lunch make an effort to promote the arts and shed light on modern creativity. While I may have disagreed with your assessment here, it certainly incited a response from me, and intelligent discourse is what this world needs. So, thanks and keep up the good work.