The Game of Naked 2017

Curator: David Michael Hinnebusch’s “The Game of Naked,” created in 2017, presents a complex mixed-media collage painting. It incorporates elements of figuration and pop art within a dynamic composition. Editor: My first impression is a visual cacophony—the riotous colors and juxtaposed forms are challenging, yet oddly compelling. The interplay between representation and abstraction certainly holds my attention. Curator: Indeed. Note how Hinnebusch overlays figures onto what appears to be a board game surface. It is not immediately apparent but raises compelling questions regarding society, gender, and perhaps a critical examination of power dynamics and consumerism. The work seems intent on deconstructing prescribed roles. Editor: Absolutely. There's a strong push and pull generated by these overlaid systems. Look at the formal structure: the geometry of the game board beneath struggles against the expressively rendered, nudes. The artist disrupts expectations regarding line and form by presenting us with something that wants to be controlled while embracing unbridled artistic freedom. Curator: Yes, there's a deliberate subversion happening. Consider how the fragmented figures, rendered with such expressive brushstrokes, exist within a grid that’s meant to structure and control—is the "game" about exposing vulnerabilities within these systems? Are they commenting on gender roles and visibility, particularly within societal contexts? Editor: Precisely. One is prompted to investigate the tension. Is it resolved, challenged, or amplified? The chromatic range is bold, with primary hues battling against a structured framework. I find the stark whites especially arresting and confrontational in contrast to the more muted yellows. It’s all cleverly unresolved. Curator: Hinnebusch's work refuses to be neatly categorized. "The Game of Naked" encourages an interrogation of cultural scripts. It compels us to question, to expose, and to reimagine our collective engagement with prevailing ideologies, a task with great utility in 2017, and now. Editor: The experience lingers. Hinnebusch succeeds in creating work of genuine, and challenging beauty. He gives order a reason to panic and beauty a good argument to fight for, while revealing himself to be both architect and agitator.