Man's Best Friend, 2004
Just like Su-yeon Kwak uses dogs to comment on crass consumerism and the de-animalization of dogs in today's society, David Corcoran looks to dogs to comment on his own animal nature.
When I first saw his painting in my inbox, I was immediately drawn to it for its ferocity, and not just because the dog looks angry. The artist, by choosing this subject and juxtaposing his self-portrait with the dog's snarl, is angry too. Or perhaps not angry, but primal. And I think every true artist knows this feeling, and knows the conflict: tamp it down (for commercial reasons) or express it and the market be damned.
I look at a lot of happy, beautiful dogs, but I love seeing art that resonates with their shadow side too, especially on this grand scale (60"x68"). Strangely, David reports that most people react with laughter to this piece. I am not sure that's encouraging, because laughter in the face of rage only causes more rage.
And I think it says something about our society that we don't believe dogs can be ferocious, or we want to look the other way when they are. Only when we see them as dogs (not mini-humans with fur), capable of unbridled violence if that is what they are subjected to, then can we give them the respect and protection they deserve.
See more of David's work at his website.
P.S. The image also makes me think of the Wall St. warriors watching the markets tumble. Scary times make us all feel primal. Or as one stockbroker put it, "Yesterday was Darwinian."
