Daniel Baldauf
For my public art project I chose to take on a more subversive route. Rather than create a work that would inspire hope, I want it to disturb the viewer. To put it simply, I propose to construct a murder scene of a piñata. I envision this piñata victim in the middle of a sidewalk, busted open, motionless, sitting in blood, surrounded by entrails and candy. In order to make the work even more absurd, the piñata would need to be non figurative. If it were to resemble a human or animal it would come off as less irrational. A traditional star shaped piñata would be perfect for this project because it has the advantage of being easily recognizable while also not referencing an individual. Having the murdered piñata act as an inanimate object is the goal because it creates confusion as to why and how it managed to shed blood.
It is difficult to maintain positivity and hopefulness, especially in this moment with the COVID-19 pandemic, so this work might not be one that would benefit the current situation, nevertheless, I want to create a provocative work because making subversive art is what inspires me most. My work tends to combine and juxtapose opposite themes in questionable, and perhaps to some, unsettling ways that often revolve around my identity as a Mexican-American. I devised this project as a way to contrast innocence with violence. A piñata serves as the perfect object for this project because of its association with Mexican culture and celebrations. This combination of gore and pleasure is disturbing because the piñata is meant to be an object that evokes joy and excitement to children. My project answers the question of what it would look like if a piñata was actually a living creature. It questions the playful violence involved in acquiring its contents by beating it.
This work is important to me because it allows me to continue to explore where it is I fit in as a Mexican-American individual. I’ve always used art as a means to materialize my connection to Mexico. My cultural background is a theme that I constantly draw from. No matter what the assignment is, I always use my identity as a key element in my art. My works haven’t always been this extreme, nevertheless, they have always included unsettling themes. This work's intention is not to offend or to be disliked, on the contrary, my hope is that this work can be looked at through a light hearted lense. I am very aware that this gruesome imagery can produce negative emotions and that other interpretations of this work are possible. For example it can be related to current issues like displacement and xenophobia.
The best place to set up the project would be somewhere easily accessible so that many people can witness it, but somewhere not too obvious. Rather than putting the piñata on a busy street, putting it on a side street would be best. If it were in Berkeley, Center Street near Bank of America would be an adequate spot. Since its a murder scene, it would make more sense to have it slightly obscured from the main flow of pedestrians.
In terms of materials, I would strategically break open a piñata and use paper mache to cover the exposed edges with clumps to give them a flesh-like appearance. I'd then later paint it using reds and pinks to make it look like an exposed wound. The entrails would also be made of paper mache and covered in a glossy finish so they’d appear still viable. I’d also place candy around the cavity. The pool and splatter of blood would be made using red paint. If I wanted to push it, I’d used real animal organs instead, for full effect, but I’m not sure if that's legal. The kind of help I’d need is approval from others to know if what I’m doing is safe. Because of the subject matter I think I’d need to do this without anyone knowing because I assume this wouldn’t be approved by an institution. Due to the work being placed in the public, I accept that I have no control over how long it will exist. I want it to stay long enough for many people to see it, but I am certain it will inevitably be removed.
My ultimate goal is that this project provokes a lighthearted response because my intention is to perturb the public. I haven’t conceived a reason for placing it in a specific location and what that would mean. I’ve only considered locations with higher visibility. I hope that this project enriches the lives of those who witness it by creating an amusing and humorous moment in their day. My project's true purpose is just to toy with the public.
It is difficult to maintain positivity and hopefulness, especially in this moment with the COVID-19 pandemic, so this work might not be one that would benefit the current situation, nevertheless, I want to create a provocative work because making subversive art is what inspires me most. My work tends to combine and juxtapose opposite themes in questionable, and perhaps to some, unsettling ways that often revolve around my identity as a Mexican-American. I devised this project as a way to contrast innocence with violence. A piñata serves as the perfect object for this project because of its association with Mexican culture and celebrations. This combination of gore and pleasure is disturbing because the piñata is meant to be an object that evokes joy and excitement to children. My project answers the question of what it would look like if a piñata was actually a living creature. It questions the playful violence involved in acquiring its contents by beating it.
This work is important to me because it allows me to continue to explore where it is I fit in as a Mexican-American individual. I’ve always used art as a means to materialize my connection to Mexico. My cultural background is a theme that I constantly draw from. No matter what the assignment is, I always use my identity as a key element in my art. My works haven’t always been this extreme, nevertheless, they have always included unsettling themes. This work's intention is not to offend or to be disliked, on the contrary, my hope is that this work can be looked at through a light hearted lense. I am very aware that this gruesome imagery can produce negative emotions and that other interpretations of this work are possible. For example it can be related to current issues like displacement and xenophobia.
The best place to set up the project would be somewhere easily accessible so that many people can witness it, but somewhere not too obvious. Rather than putting the piñata on a busy street, putting it on a side street would be best. If it were in Berkeley, Center Street near Bank of America would be an adequate spot. Since its a murder scene, it would make more sense to have it slightly obscured from the main flow of pedestrians.
In terms of materials, I would strategically break open a piñata and use paper mache to cover the exposed edges with clumps to give them a flesh-like appearance. I'd then later paint it using reds and pinks to make it look like an exposed wound. The entrails would also be made of paper mache and covered in a glossy finish so they’d appear still viable. I’d also place candy around the cavity. The pool and splatter of blood would be made using red paint. If I wanted to push it, I’d used real animal organs instead, for full effect, but I’m not sure if that's legal. The kind of help I’d need is approval from others to know if what I’m doing is safe. Because of the subject matter I think I’d need to do this without anyone knowing because I assume this wouldn’t be approved by an institution. Due to the work being placed in the public, I accept that I have no control over how long it will exist. I want it to stay long enough for many people to see it, but I am certain it will inevitably be removed.
My ultimate goal is that this project provokes a lighthearted response because my intention is to perturb the public. I haven’t conceived a reason for placing it in a specific location and what that would mean. I’ve only considered locations with higher visibility. I hope that this project enriches the lives of those who witness it by creating an amusing and humorous moment in their day. My project's true purpose is just to toy with the public.
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