Another Perfect Day 2010

Dave Macdowell made this painting, ‘Another Perfect Day’, sometime in the 20th century, probably with acrylics. The painting is a visual feast, or maybe a visual overindulgence, of pop culture icons skewered with a dark, satirical edge. Look at the density of the painting and the way the characters seem to pile on top of each other! Macdowell’s brushstrokes are visible, creating a slightly chaotic and frenzied atmosphere. The colours are saturated, almost aggressively cheerful, but there's an underlying unease. The painting has an almost hallucinatory quality. I keep coming back to the sign that reads "Miseryland" - and I guess that sums it up! There's a manic energy to this work, similar to the dark humour of artists like R. Crumb. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty; it can be a mirror reflecting back the uncomfortable truths of our culture.