Jonathan
Meese is a self-proclaimed cultural exorcist. In his performances,
sculptures, and paintings he adopts a shamanistic role, schizophrenically
channelling all manner of chaotic zeitgeist and psycho/media
debris. In his self-portraits, Meese exaggerates his real-life
‘wild-man’ features, his image continuously mutating through
a cast of characters – from demons to divas and superheroes
– to develop potential narratives exploring the nature of
power, corruption, and contemporary mythology. In Dr. Babysquawar
Meese’s form morphs into a raging animal. Less image than
projectile explosion of paint on canvas, Meese’s painting
contains an unrestrained energy and brutal power; the bright
colours and spastic rendering lend sarcasm to this false god.