Would I Lie to You: the Art of Politics and Propaganda
In an age where truth is routinely manipulated and mass media serves as a smokescreen for political gain, propaganda has become more powerful and more dangerous than ever. Would I Lie to You confronts this disturbing reality head-on.
Exhibited in 2016 to coincide with the US presidential election, this series of ten augmented reality oil portraits reimagines global leaders and media figures using rubbish collected from the streets of Edinburgh, symbols of the corruption and disposability at the heart of political theatre. Each painting reveals a second, hidden narrative when viewed through the Artivive app, exposing unsettling truths that lie beneath the polished public facades.
This body of work is both a protest and a provocation, responding to the overwhelming flood of misinformation and the growing helplessness of the public in the face of power unchecked and unaccountable.
Demo videos of the augmented reality portrait paintings: Tony Blair and David Cameron
OPENING NIGHT
Out of the Blue, Drill Hall
November 2016
