A shout-out to my buddy “Mayhem,” whose whimsical yet pointed art project at the Burning Man festival this year noted the connection between tax dollars and torture. (Photos by “Mayhem”)
The festival’s theme this year was “the American dream” and this naturally invited some political commentary at a festival where “message” art is typically rare. In “Mayhem”’s installation, passers-by could give electric shocks to a mannequin representing the iconic Abu Ghraib prisoner by pedaling a stationary bike nearby. It’s participatory! And just as participatory (a placard explained) is the real-life torture policy, thanks to the tax dollars that support it.
But we are revolting! Oh.
