30x49x2 Oil, wax, archival paper and bank note on panel.
Artist: Brian Drake
Date:Winter 2024
Series: Broken Banknote
NOTES & DETAILS
This work reinterprets Soviet-backed Polish currency and its historical figures, engaging with the themes of decadence and authority in the final days before the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. As history has shown, Poland’s trajectory often signals broader shifts across Eastern Europe. In light of current events, the past resurfaces with renewed relevance.
Artistic interpretation, combined with transparency, texture, and color, elevates overpainted Polish currency from the decadence of the 1980s, making it the focal point of this work. Fame'82 Accepted to its first submittal and winning a Jury prize from Keri A. Towler - Director of Collections - Hirshhorn Museum, this piece continues to show around the country, with its last appearance at Covet Art Gallery in Oceanside, CA.
2024 SHOWS: Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons, MD
Jury Winner & Marquee Wall