My Beautiful Dark Twisted Reality: Kanye X George Condo
George Condo: http://www.xavierhufkens.com/artists/george-condo
Kanye West's industry-disrupting album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was released in 2010, acting a new direction for the college dropout himself. The album, published nearly ten years prior, remains a topic of conversation as it features Kanye's broad artistic talent.
The album stands alongside his multi-media production. One element of the project is his film Runaway, set to the album's soundtrack. The film tells the blossoming love story of a misplaced Phoenix and Kanye. Kanye's relationship with the Phoenix entails beauty and grace, also evident in the ballerinas that frequent the film's scenes and album performances. Kanye chose the ballerina image as one of the four album cover art variations painted by artist George Condo. Condo's caricature-esque figures are part of a genre he refers to as 'artificial realism.' Therefore, Kanye and Condo's collaboration showcases both the real and fantasy evident in this artistic production.
Condo himself discusses artificial realism in an interview on the Louisiana Channel. Condo begins his process of creating his figures with anatomical accuracy. However, he then distorts his work, painting artificial structures, behaviors, and personalities. Condo likens his artificial realism to the workings of our society. The distortion of truth on social media platforms diverts individuals from fact, inevitably creating an artificial reality. This notion also holds within politics. For example, a political or social event/movement may occur. However, networks and pundits may fabricate the narrative surrounding it. Condo concludes the interview with his realization that he has found profound truths in art despite his distortions and artistic choices.
Similarly, the film production Runaway uses mythical circumstances to touch upon societal concerns. The opening scene's landscape appears as a middle ground between the heavenly and hellish aspects of the plot. The scene is then interrupted by a crash. It is the Phoenix Kanye soon rescues. Familiarizing herself with the foreign surroundings, the Phoenix watches a news program. She is horrified with the coverage, and Kanye instructs her to avoid the news. Kanye's instruction is not uncommon. Many advise against watching highly negative news programs and often distrust the information.
Viewers understand the connection between Kanye and the Phoenix as representations of the self and ego. Some may interpret the Phoenix as Kanye's pure artistic side, stemming from her prominent energy and creativity. Kanye may desire to protect this side of himself, hence advising against news media. Following this, Kanye civilizes the Phoenix by teaching her table etiquette. An all-White wait staff surrounds the table of the dinner party scene. Kanye brings to light the deeply-rooted racial divides within dining settings. During slavery, domestic slaves surrounded dinner tables, prohibited from joining their white masters at the table. Kanye ridicules this former reality through a role reversal.
Despite the album title My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye highlights frequently faced realities. Similar to Condo's 'artificial realism' within the engaging and fantastical elements of art, profound truths exist.
