“American Kink 1: Meritocracy” (American Flag, wire, latex mask, facial mold, digital illustration, 2020)
—The Illusion of Meritocracy denies the existence of Inequality.
“American Kink 2: Capitalism” (American Flag, ball-gag, facial mold, digital illustration, 2020)
—The Struggle is the Point
“American Kink 3: Violence” (American Flag, hand molds, digital illustration, 2020)
—It’s not a bug, it’s a feature
“American Kink 4: Patriotism” (American Flag, mannequin, digital illustration, 2020)
—We are a Nation bound by violence, capitalism and the illusion of meritocracy. This is our Patriotism
Since Trump took office, the messages I have received on dating apps have become increasingly aggressive, violent and disturbing, and more often than not, have political implications. I have been archiving these interactions through artistic interpretation in posts such as this and discussions in my IG stories.
I have started to notice a phenomenon that I am calling, “The Festishization of American Patriotism”, wherein people (disproportionately white or white presenting men) have radicalized patriotism to the extent that it no longer can be characterized as the love and respect one has for their country, but a dangerous and distorted sense of devotion and reckless allegiance for the people and policies who they believe uphold the American Dream, a dream which upholds the status quo of patriarchy, racism, oppression and male supremacy.
My series “American Kink” co-opts the fundamental values our country was built upon, and examines how these founding principles have been hyper-masculinized, sexualized and warped to fit the narrative of a new generation of American Patriot.