Year: 2022
Medium: silk screen, mixed media
Dimensions: 145.5 x 112 cm (57 1/4 x 44 in.)
Acquired from MU Gallery, 2022
Niimi’s works focus on the theme of mass consumption culture. Barcode is depicted as a symbol of what is “being consumed”. The artist states that he has been influenced by Hannover Dadaism movement artist Kurt Schwitters. The attitude towards mass consumption culture is, however, more reminiscent of Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein who came after Dadaism. Or, slightly later in time, Neo-Geo artists Jeff Koons and Ashley Bickerton are referred to as more closely related representation. This work depicts the easily recognizable and popular American comic series as the subject, taking the challenge to emphasize stereotypes. It subtly criticizes both the consuming society and the entertainment that is being consumed.
