Two-Headed Freak 1935 - 1942

Editor: This watercolor drawing by Chris Makrenos, made sometime between 1935 and 1942, is titled "Two-Headed Freak." The subject matter is quite unsettling! I'm struck by its stark portrayal of... well, a rather grotesque puppet-like figure. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This piece offers a rather poignant critique of societal power structures and the concept of the "freak show." What do you observe about the puppet's construction? Its materiality, in other words? Editor: The puppet has a very rigid, almost mechanical feel to it, with stark color contrasts. The faces seem almost mask-like. It's bizarre and yet somehow familiar. Curator: Exactly! The stiff, segmented body and the garish faces highlight the artificiality of performance. Consider the historical context – the 1930s and 40s were marked by social upheaval, the rise of totalitarian regimes. Do you see connections between this manipulated figure and the controlled image often presented by those in power? What commentary might Makrenos be making on the performance of identity? Editor: It’s almost like the figure represents how individuals can be manipulated or how they are forced to perform certain roles dictated by society. The two heads seem to suggest conflicting personas perhaps? Curator: Precisely! Think of Du Bois' concept of double consciousness – the internal conflict of seeing yourself through the eyes of a prejudiced society. Might this “freak,” displayed and controlled, embody such a struggle? It pushes us to question who defines "normal" and the consequences of societal expectations on individual identity. Editor: Wow, I hadn’t thought of it that way! I was stuck on the "freak" part, but I now appreciate how it uses the grotesque to engage with societal control. Curator: Yes! Art like this challenges us to look beyond the surface and to consider the complex intersections of identity, power, and representation. It certainly reframes how I view performativity and social expectation!