by Carl Frederik Waage Beck on oktober 6, 2010
In preparing for the exhibition due next year I am often asked the question, “Why do you paint the Danish political leaders?”
True to tradition I can’t help but include some indignation in my exhibitions, and the upcoming one – “The Candidates” – won’t be an exception. The next Danish general election is due no later than November 16th 2011, and I thought an exhibition would be a brilliant occasion to zoom in on the electoral options.
Who do we want leading this nation?
Power demands humility, but sadly, power has been wielded with anything but Humility in the recent history of this country. As the opposing virtue of the most deadly cardinal sin Superbia or Pride, Humility is a rarity among politicians who fight each other to become the prom-queen of Parliament. In other words, who can look more attractive and important to the electorate?
There is one candidate that stands out however.
Defined by Dante as “love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one’s neighbour.” Pride is probably best witnessed when looking at the behaviour of the queen of a certain national socialist party a.k.a. The Danish People’s Party.
Since 2001 the DPP has had the unique power of being able to tip the scales, and thus possessed a strong bargaining position which it has not been slow to exploit at any opportunity to tighten the laws on immigrants and refugees. This can hardly be described as Humility.
For these deeds the leader of the DPP Pia Kærsgaard is awarded the sin “Pride – Superbia”, and will have her very own according portrait painted at the exhibition “The Candidates” in February.
Until then you have to make make do with a simple photo of her from the DPP campaign that is running at the moment. The painted portrait will surprise and delight, so join the exhibition!
Stay tuned to see who wins the remaining 6 awards:
Avaritia – Greed
Luxuria – Lust
Invidia – Envy
Gula – Gluttony
Ira – Wrath
Acedia – Sloth
…and who, if any, dodges the award…
Enjoy!
Continue to read about the Cardinal sin Wrath
The current way DPP shows off it's leader.
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by Carl Frederik Waage Beck on september 29, 2010
“In Charge” (Helle Thorning Schmidt and Stephen Kinnock), 200×140 cm., 2010, Oil pastel and acrylic on Canvas, 22.000 kr.
On Sep 16th. the Danish IRS exonerated Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her husband Stephen Kinnock.
It seems all is well that ends well. Except for the fact that our political system is still bancrupt and politics has nothing to do with fighting for the good of the people and everything to do with protecting power and income.
3 questions remain:
1. Why do politicians continue to bribe and slander when their energy should be spent listening and leading?
2. When will the press own up to it’s political leanings and admit when it’s pursuing agendas?
3. Why vote for any politician that has too much at stake not to have the balls to lead?
The current state of demoCRAZY is forcing any sane person to stay at home come the next election. Even though it’s a silent support of the incumbent, what is the alternative?
Left and right is now vying for the middle ground and taking turns bribing the electorate with any and all trick in the book. Government is bending over for the soap whenever they need the help of the national-socialists a.k.a. Danish Peoples Party to pass another state budget.
The term “Independent Press” has never seemed more like a charade. This was aptly demonstrated in the tax scandal raised against Helle T-S. The right-leaning tabloid BT brought the “story” to the surface while the left leaning former broadsheet Politiken fought to suppress it and defend Helle. The outcome of the matter became irrelevant when the two papers didn’t even have the integrity to admit their real political agendas. No wonder print is dying. Content and integrity is EVERYTHING.
Pointing the proverbial 3 fingers at myself (and the rest of the electorate), Why do we even waste our time going to the polls? Next election is due no later than november 16th. 2011. Will I believe next time that it matters? Will you? If not, this state has a serious problem.
Let me take this opportunity to promote an alternative. My next exhibition “The Candidates” opens in central Copenhagen in February/March 2011. Come, eat and drink, chat with friends, and most importantly VOTE for your Candidate. Each Candidate will be represented with their own painting, one of which is revealed above this text. More information will follow here on this blog as the date approaches. If you want to make certain you receive an invitation then sign up for the newsletter “Studionotes” in the top right corner.
Enjoy!
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by Carl Frederik Waage Beck on august 30, 2010
There was a time when a politician was a person you elected to lead your country.
You elected this person because of the ideals and principles she represented.
You elected this person because you wanted her to enact change.
At the end of the term, you re-elected her if you still believed in her.
There was a time when a politician was a person who wanted to lead the country.
She ran for election because she believed in ideals and principles.
She ran for election because she wanted to change the world.
At the end of the term she was re-elected if she had been true to her ideals and principles.
There was a time when being a politician was a vocation and a privilege.
There was a time when leadership was about doing what’s right for the country.
There was a time when fearing the judgment of the people made you unfit to lead.
There was a time when politicians were judged by their ability to lead.
What else do you need to know about your politician?
Getting to know Helle Thorning Schmidt
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by Carl Frederik Waage Beck on august 11, 2010
As a result of Opposition leader Helle Thornings Schmidts tax scandal, her party has now lost 4 %-points (27,3% to 23,3%) in the course of a month. Before the summer holiday Helle stood to win the next election and oust the incumbent government. This ground has now been lost.
But fear not Helle, I am sure your party will be able to dig out some dirt on the incumbents.
I am moving ahead with the first of the contrafactual portraits of hypocritical danish politicians – the pillory series due to be finished next year. The series will feature the leaders of the major danish political parties.
As it is, the danish political climate is marred by scandals and personal attacks.
There’s little room left for politicians actually seeking to discuss POLITICS.
It’s a tragedy.
So much is threatening the wellfare of the Danish society: Financial crisis, unemployment, a failed public shool, crippled competitiveness in terms of exports and attracting qualified workers, a morally bankrupt immigration and refugee policy.
None of this is debated by the key “presidents” of each party as they fear losing their constituencies. Instead they focus on front politics meant to signal the party line and garner more votes and better polls. By the way, party lines are somewhat blurred now that every party is aiming for the middle ground.
I am revolted by the fact that NO SINGLE major politician has the discipline to adhere to principles and ideals. It has now become a battle for the lowest common denominator.
Stay tuned for more uncovering portraits as we move along the path towards the pillory.
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by Carl Frederik Waage Beck on juli 31, 2010
Working the 4th day of the pillory project
I have spent the past couple of weeks with my family in the little town of Vankiva in Sweden. It’s an idyllic little village in Skåne: a church, a pond and lots of cows on green pastures.
We have been relaxing with friends, delicious food and wine. Basically having a good time!
In the meantime alot has happened on the political scene, the danish opposition leader Helle Thorning Schmidt is in stormy weather over a tax scandal, and I took this a cue to continue my work on the pillory project which is due to be shown in february next year. The project is a testament to the everpresent hypocrisy of politicians everywhere. No need to look at failed states to find that.
The exact venue isn’t locked down yet, but will be in the coming weeks.
The current piece I am working on features none other than Helle herself. I started working on it before the tax scandal really gained momentum, and now Helle and the press are keeping themselves more busy than ever.
Enjoy the story unfold in BT.dk
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Founder of the "Copenhagen Stuckists", Carl Beck has since 2005 emerged as a controversial community activist artist working under the pseudonym "Paintshooter"
As a former FX-trader in the global currency markets, Carl Beck has now turned his attention to the individual in a globalized world. The work of Carl Beck has hung in group and solo shows in Denmark and France. 
