Walter Miranda
Plastic Artist

Works of the artist

Series

Every 'ism' is Opium to the People

– Listing 3 items

Every "Ism" is Opium for the People

Technique: Flotation and graphite on paper and oil on wood


Dimensions: 60 x 60 cm


Year: 1982


 


In this three works I try to demonstrate that regardless the political system, usually, ideologies have generally only served to control the human being through dogmas that are based on philosophical concepts that are not practiced by those in power.


The result is the poverty of great part of the populations and the political control through the violence and fear. In practice, so much the capitalism, as the socialism and the communism (which for me was never put into practice, because what happened in the Soviet Union was just another dictatorship), has just been used to control the purposes of the people according to the will of the holders of the power.


Work 1 – Images that address the Brazilian social and political situation represent the result provided by the “ism” in force in the country in the 80’s decade. At the bottom of the picture is the stylization of the Brazilian flag with the word freedom in self-relief which represents the greatest desire of the moment.


Work 2 – The invasion of Poland by Soviet troops massacred the “Solidarnosc” movement, which had spread throughout the country, transforming itself into the possibility of obtaining freedom and social improvements.


Work 3 – The dictatorship imposed on the population of El Salvador, sustained economically and militarily by the United States, causes the same results as the dictatorships sustained by the Soviet Union. In the lower part of the work, the North American flag has the word EL SALVADOR (The Savior) embossed in allusion both to the name of the country where the atrocities shown occur, and to the North American arrogance that considers itself "the savior" of the western world.


Walter Miranda/1982


The transcription of the text on the painting I:


There is no sin on the lower line of Equator.


Below is the transcript of the text in the painting II:


Mt 11,21-22 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. Mt 12,37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. Mt 24,7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. New International Version (NIV)


 



 

Walter Miranda
Ateliê Oficina FWM de Artes
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