• Rolando@lemmy.world
    7·
    8 months ago

    Here’s a guy who died way too young.

    After an exhibition mounted in 1933, Padegs’ art became an expression of unpleasant, even ugly traits, contrasting with the contemporary tendency towards beauty in Latvian art. Padegs once said: “I must often listen to reproaches- why do you draw such disgusting pictures when there is so much beauty in the world?- But there are also many abominable things and somebody must draw them too, I answer. I want to show the seamy side of life which we do not like to see in order not to spoil our feeling of comfort or our good appetite”.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kārlis_Padegs

    • DessertStorms@kbin.social
      2·
      8 months ago

      That’s a great quote, and to add from my own perspective - a lot of what people would consider unpleasant and ugly isn’t, it’s just bias and bigotry that make society think they are, like the wheelchair I’m pretty sure Madonna is sitting in, something which, like other aids, is hardly ever depicted in art, especially not older “classical” art (in reference to period rather than style).

      (Edit: I’ve looked it up and can’t confirm that actually is a wheelchair, I guess I’m just projecting, but I’ll leave it, because my point still stands, if anything, this proves it lol)

      Definitely bookmarking their page to learn and see more when I can give it proper attention.

      • Rolando@lemmy.world
        1·
        8 months ago

        can’t confirm that actually is a wheelchair,

        I think those round things at the bottom are supposed to be abstract screaming faces, like the madonna is being carried on their shoulders. At first I thought they looked like motorcycle helmets, and then I thought they looked like teenage mutant ninja turtles though obviously they can’t be either. I think they’re left abstract on purpose.