The Daily Northwestern
Before the two presidential candidates meet each other duringthe debates in October, President George W. Bush and Democraticrival Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry are facing off right here inEvanston.
Two giant portraits of the candidates are resting side by sideat a local gallery as part of a new exhibition by French artistDavid Gista, who says his work is an unbiased commentary onpolitics and media.
Gallery Mornea, 602 Davis St., opened an exhibit entitled”Presidents Etc.” on Sept. 18. The collection includes a series ofpaintings dedicated to major political figures and events,including six- and nine-foot portraits of current presidentialcandidates as well as historical depictions of events such as theWorld War II-era Yalta Conference.
“(Gista’s work) is political with historical undercurrents,”said Michael Monar, the owner of Gallery Mornea. “He delves intothe creation of an icon and how an individual politician ismarketed and put forth in the world.”
The exhibit, which sold more than 30 paintings at its opening,also attempts to analyze the importance of media in the UnitedStates, something that is much less influential in Europe, Gistasaid.
“News becomes history,” Gista said. “Media is more prominent (inthe U.S.). In Europe, the media does not affect as much of yourlife.”
Gista also said his ability to analyze American politics as aEuropean outsider influences his work.
“It is interesting to be in a different place because I have adifferent angle,” Gista said. “It’s interesting to be here whilethere is tension between Europe and the U.S.”
Gista held his first exhibit in the United States in Chicago in1997. He has since contributed his paintings to many galleries andrecently completed 274 paintings for the new Hotel Sofitel, 20 E.Chestnut St., in downtown Chicago.
Mary Huang, an assistant at the gallery, said Gista’s work isimportant because it allows viewers to understand the importance ofhistory and its tendency to repeat itself.
“The pieces are thought-provoking and stylish,” Huang said, “Itis appealing to the eye and manages to show the recurrence ofhistory.”
Monar said that Gista attempts to increase the politicalawareness of viewers.
“(The November election) has created passion where before therewas very little interest,” Monar said. “(Gista) wants people to bemuch more investigative and circumspect.”
Though the subject matter of his work is rather serious, Gistasaid he utilizes humor as political commentary in the exhibit.
“(The exhibit is) playful,” Gista said. “It’s playing withsubject matter that is serious. What I got from people were thatthey were moved and amused and they went through a range ofemotions.”
While he does focus most of his attention on the media andpoliticians, Gista also paints anonymous figures. Many of theseportraits appear on brown paper bags and shopping bags of allsizes, which he calls “soul bags.” Named because Gista feels thatthe bodies and souls of the people he paints are inside the bags,the “soul bags” are intended to convey a sense of “fullness andemptiness,” at the same time, Gista said.
“Is it a sculpture or a painting? That’s what I like,” Gistasaid. “I like to be in the gray area in between.”
Even the large works of Bush and Kerry are “soul bags,” entitled”Giant Incumbent Soul Bag,” and “Giant Challenger Soul Bag,”respectively.
Gallery Mornea is free to the public and is open Tuesday toFriday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.The “Presidents Etc.” exhibit closes Oct. 31 with a Halloweencostume celebration.
Reach Kate Ward at [email protected]
