Ironic Activist Art

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

Mike Calway-Fagen Creates Delightfully Disparate Pieces

— December 26, 2011 — Art & Design
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.

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.
2.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness