Picasso came closest to mixing politics and art. But, lets keep the propaganda on the TV and in our newspapers, and leave the gallery free of political vomit.
 

It doesn't resemble Clinton at all. I must agree that politics should only be included in art in moderation.
JQ
 

If my memory is not too far off, the dealer closest to Picasso said that save for his late life (post WW2 role as hero of Stalinism) Picasso was the least politically involved of men. As for his art, even in that late period, only in Guernica, a very personal response to a very personal event, and some other very generalized portrayals of man's inhumanity to man, I do not think focussed on any specific political stance (yes, he did UN stuff, and all peoples together stuff, but I wouldn't put them into the political category that I would put, was it Serra's F--- Bush piece at the recent Whitney biennial). For the most part, it was said, politics was too trivial to be dealt with in his serious art. Perhaps,it is fair to say, the need for biographical composition which pervades nearly all his important work was more important to him than saving the world in more political fashion. On the other hand, if one wants the ultimate statement on politics taken to a higher level, there are probably few more powerful statements of the ultimate futility of human endeavor, politics included, than his wondrous self-portrait at 91.
As for Britney Spears (is it?) and Senator Clinton as models for sexual or political idolatry, I suppose it is true that art can focus on any subject matter, including sex and politics, and still be good art or rotten art. As the song of my earlier days put it, it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it.
 

Every action or inaction is political. Pretending to ignore or rise above politics is simply a powerful statement in favour of the status quo. Comfortable westerners can pretend they are not involved in politics because they do not have any self interest in seeing changes in the world. It's the poor and the downtrodden, the bombed of Lebanon, the hungry, the diseased children, the 2/3rds of the world that get a bum deal that have an interest in politics - but they rarely get a chance to vote and even less of a chance to visit an art gallery.
 

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to plug the Guerilla Girls...I just wanted to show that there is plenty of political art that is far from boring...and whether you agree with what they do or not, you certainly don't yawn when looking at what thier art. In many ways, art is a reflection of what is happening at any given moement. With such polarization and passion over political issues currently, I am surprized that so many would consider politics to be such a boring subject to make art about. I would imagine that making art about this subject would not only be very interesting given the intensity of the feelings behind the issues, but also somewhat necessary.
 

Hi Sara,
It wasnt that I agree or don't agree with what the Guerilla Girls say or do, I usually just delete comments that have a website and nothing to say though.

I would of left it if you added it to your most recent comment though.

It's just that a lot of comments just link to their own site, which does not contribute to the discussion at all. If the comment has something related to say about the topic and then links to their website, I'm fine with it.

Dion
 

So many artists would love to be able to express their views on politicians . To create a work of art about a politician is an honour. So many parts of the world are deprived of freedom of speech. Art is truly the freedom of expression; so artists that have this freedom enjoy it!

Ilina
www.tonsofart.com