Check fest 1998

Kenny Scharf’s ‘Check Fest’ presents us with a vibrant grid of symbols. Many of these, like the spirals, cartoonish faces, and eyes, resonate with earlier abstract and surrealist traditions. Consider the eye motif—here, a playful, graphic element. Yet, since ancient Egypt, the eye has served as a potent symbol, a protective amulet representing watchfulness and insight. This symbol has traversed cultures and centuries, appearing in various forms, from the all-seeing eye of religious iconography to its presence in contemporary art. Such recurrence is no mere coincidence; it taps into our collective unconscious, where primal symbols reside. Scharf’s work reminds us that these motifs aren’t static; they evolve, adapting to new contexts while retaining their emotional power. This ‘Check Fest’ is a testament to the enduring life of images, their capacity to re-emerge, transformed yet still resonant, in the ever-shifting landscape of human expression.