“Emperor” is a recent painting by Roberts, which appears cartoonish and reminds one of an illustration from a children’s comic book. At first glance, the colourful vivid creature made from numerous gazing tear shapes is crowned with some kind of balloons, exuding joy and playfulness - its pictorial description can be defined as cute, psychedelic, and satirical, an alien seemingly without any serious contemplations. Contrary to this perception, Roberts's depiction symbolically conveys a world on fire with characteristics hovering between the Chicago Imagists and contemporary pop art culture.
Nevertheless, according to the artist, “his monster is neither pretty nor benign, in fact, it is a diabolical creation, a seething mass of contradictions. Bolstered by his perceived righteousness, an ego swelled by a compliant press, he’s laying waste to hard-won freedoms that took generations to bring into being and enshrined in statute. A Guston painting is being crushed in his claw, just more collateral chaff in the rewriting of history, which he is unaware of. It was a gift from the liberal elite, those who he despises the most. Make no mistake, the barbarians are in the house, and they're coming for us.”
“Emperor” is an ironic reflection on the current political chaos and egomaniacs emerging from the Tories’ coffers and resurrecting from the grave. Roberts’s painting is a humorous tonic in these challenging times.
Image: Michael Roberts, Emperor , 2020. Oil, wax, resin, collage and genuine silver leaf on linen 200 x 160 cm.
Courtesy and ©Michael Roberts and Renée Pfister Art & Gallery Consultancy.
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