USD 2 Mouse 2021

Editor: This is "USD 2 Mouse" by Sergey Piskunov, painted in 2021 using acrylics. It's definitely striking – a clear, somewhat unsettling portrait. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I see a commentary on labor and the contemporary obsession with wealth. The artist meticulously renders a Mickey Mouse figure constructed of what appears to be vacuum-sealed stacks of one hundred dollar bills. Consider the labour involved, both in the original accumulation of that money and in the painstaking act of painting it. It seems to challenge our understanding of art and craft as inherently separate, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. It almost feels like a commentary on Pop Art, repurposing iconic imagery, but twisting it with a harder edge, focused on consumerism. Is the choice of Mickey Mouse deliberate in this regard? Curator: Undeniably. Mickey is a globally recognized symbol of American capitalist culture, appropriated here to confront ideas about value, material consumption, and perhaps even the "Disneyfication" of culture. The painting makes me think about production: What processes led to both this artwork and the represented money? Editor: It's thought-provoking how the medium itself, acrylic paint, a readily available and mass-produced material, further feeds into the concept of consumption. It forces you to confront uncomfortable truths about the labour behind cultural symbols. Curator: Exactly! The clear packaging also feels critical; wealth becomes encased and untouchable. There is a distinct coldness that runs counter to Disney’s typically saccharine messaging. Is it successful, would you say? Editor: It’s certainly effective at jarring my preconceived notions of value and artistry. I didn’t expect a portrait of Mickey Mouse to provoke a discussion of materialism and modes of production. Curator: Precisely. It’s a piece that demonstrates how even seemingly straightforward subjects can offer complex commentary on labor, consumption, and our societal structures.