Existing comment:
From Concept to Work
Researchers interested in the artistic process will find ample evidence of how Oliphant's daily cartoon drawings developed. Shown here is one of Oliphant's well-known tropes: Barack Obama as an Easter Island head. Nearby in the gallery is a related bronze sculpture.
Each time a new president was elected, Oliphant found himself challenged by the work of developing a set of visual elements to represent that leader. He developed this Easter Island concept in the early days of Obama's presidency. In 2009, commentators of all stripes noted how the candidate's famed cult of personality, which led fans to weep at his speeches, conflicted with the daily reality of communicating policy. Further into the presidency, Oliphant presented Obama more often as a black-suited, attenuated bean-pole. |