"Empire" ("Papa") Ray Gun 1959

Claes Oldenburg's sculpture ‘Empire’ (‘Papa’) Ray Gun, presents a playful take on the macho symbolism of weaponry. It's got this rough-hewn, almost primal quality that contrasts so much with the sleek, polished surfaces we usually associate with guns. It is dark and wooden, I imagine the artist building this object out of scraps found around him. I can almost see the woodshop where this might have been pieced together, the sawdust and smell of varnish. The color of the piece, the texture, it's like it was found, not made. Did he find it? I imagine him turning something sinister into something almost comical, suggesting a deeper commentary on power. It reminds me of other artists who play with everyday objects, transforming them into something unexpected and thought-provoking. It's like he's saying, let’s not take everything so seriously, let’s look for the humor, even in the darkest places.