Revitalizing a modern day sense of activism is exactly what artist Mike Calway-Fagen is trying to accomplish with his artwork. The young artist, completing a MFA at UC San Diego, has a steadfast affinity for defiance, a trait passed down to him by his iconoclastic father.
The work of Mike Calway-Fagen is entrenched with ideals of hope and fate. According to his website, "the projects offer alternatives to disaster, critique our creation of disaster, and soft-heartedly accept our fate." These are profound themes for such a young artist. Reciting the urgency ushered in during the 1960s, Calway-Fagen says, "my work acts to resuscitate this sense of activism."
Calway-Fagen’s art is ripe with irony, evident in the images of a dog seated atop a taxidermic canine cousin.
Ironic Activist Art
Mike Calway-Fagen Creates Delightfully Disparate Pieces
Trend Themes
1. Activist Art - Creating art that raises awareness and encourages activism can be a disruptive innovation opportunity.
2. Irony in Art - Incorporating irony into art can create new avenues for expression and offer unique perspectives to viewers.
3. Art as Political Critique - Using art as a way to critique societal norms, political issues, and cultural events is a disruptive innovation opportunity in the art industry.
Industry Implications
1. Fine Art - Exploring new mediums, styles, and techniques to create socially impactful art can shake up the traditional fine art industry.
2. Activism - Integrating art into activist movements can help spread messages and inspire action in new and creative ways.
3. Taxidermy Art - Using taxidermy in unexpected and thought-provoking ways, as seen in Calway-Fagen's work, could disrupt the traditional taxidermy art industry.