7.

Deep Horizon
ubermorgen.com



Deep Horizon is a series of digital images, created from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred last week. I was immediately attracted to its relevance to the news of today, as this environmental disaster is one of the most severe and devastating of my lifetime. The work itself are considered "digital oil paintings," aerial photographs of the oil spill that have been digitally manipulated to be more reminiscent of an abstract oil painting, than photograph. The artist cleverly refers to these paintings as oil paintings, given the literal use of spilled oil, while instantaneously making a commentary of art's historical narrative, the evolution of digital media, and the return of oil paint.

I am not so much attracted aesthetically to the images created, but more so to the play of words and the digital media's relation to painting. The urgency in which these images were created, just days after the oil spill, speaks volumes and makes these pieces much more relevant and interesting than if they had been created months from now. Despite the significance of the disaster, because it will likely not directly effect myself and others away from the Gulf Coast, it will likely be forgotten soon enough. These images will perhaps make its impact and importance more concrete to those not directly affected. In addition to the awareness of the disaster itself, the artist, perhaps sarcastically, states that it will bring mass-awareness to oil painting as aerial images of the oil are being constantly broad casted to the media.

While the concept is interesting, the artists' statement regarding their piece seems to be lackin sympathy regarding the devastation, and comparing the art created by the oil spill to the "nearly perfect" images of 9/11. The site's other well-known work is a piece called Attack on Democrazy created during the first eight hours after the 9/11 attacks. It is somewhat disturbing that they are capitalizing on such horrific disasters, but nevertheless their works will certainly attract attention and a buzz around them, which for a site so concerned with the media, is probably quite satisfying.