Adam Cullen: Grunge Art from Sydney
Outrage Over War And Politics In ''Templar Birth, The Devil Is Tired In War''(2007) And Chris Cornell's ‘‘Unholy War’’ (1994)
Continuation from Grunge Art, James Martin & Greg Lukens: Neo-Luddism, Surrealism, Locality & Twisted Humour:
The 1990s US grunge influence in art abroad can be illustrated through the example of Australia. With the most prominent examples of Hany Armanious (the ‘grunge king’), Mikala Dwyer, Justene Williams and Adam Cullen. Just like in America in the 1990s: ‘’uncanny realism of grunge art in Australia surfaced in tension with the social‑agenda realism of identity art, the latter synonymous with the “return of the subject” in this “after postmodernism” period’’(Hill, 2020,p.52). Leading to the Sidney grunge scene forming exhibitions such as the Rad scunge (1993), Shirthead (1993) and Scrounge Time (1993), establishing the growing scene.
One of the most distinct and controversial artists to emerge from the 1990s Sydney grunge art scene is Adam Cullen. Notably, he won the Archibald Prize in 2000 with a portrait of actor David Wenham. Author of Adam Cullen: Scars Last Longer, Ingrid Periz summarises the artist perfectly: ‘‘Dead cats, bloodied ’roos, inflatable men and headless women, Sydney painter Adam Cullen likes to conjure up the elements of a place called ‘Loserville’, pipe in some lounge music and depart the scene, but not for anywhere better.”(Crawford, u/d). The loser identity is super important for the grunge aesthetic and music, which is something I discussed in a previous post. The comical and sarcastic loser persona which had been popularised originally by SUB POP has become an important element in grunge:
SUB POP’s marketing of the LOSER shirts which became a characteristic of grunge fashion and identity, extends to art also as Cullen’s work demonstrates. Adam Cullen who has been recognized as a grunge artist, despite his Australian background showcases that the grunge style needs to be viewed through transnational ideas, as artists abroad have adapted such movement.
If Alec Clayton`s definition of grunge art is noted, Cullen represents the cartoon style division of grunge paintings, illustrating the influence of neo-expressionist artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat. Featuring vivid, contrasting colour palettes with distorted expressions and objects, characteristic of Basquiat. In such a manner, contrasting the colour scheme of the previously discussed James Martin. However, both Cullen and Martin use surrealism displaying distorted, grotesque human figures in wicked, animalistic forms. Both demonstrating the importance of social criticism and politics in grunge artworks, which are found in the musical element of the movement. Thus, all art forms of the grunge movement are involved in a political protest against Republicans and conservative ideologies.
Templar Birth, The Devil Is Tired In War (2007) and ‘‘Unholy War’’ (1994)
Adam Cullen`s politicized exhibition Stupid Heaven (2007) features artistic works heavily criticising war involvement, religion, and political figures. The most prominent example of this is the painting Templar Birth, The Devil Is Tired In War (2007), referencing the war in Iraq (2003-2011). Notably, Cullen criticises the war by drawing religious motifs and implying in the title of the artwork that even the devil is exhausted by it. The devil is the executant of the human will, challenging Christianity’s belief in which the devil is the ultimate symbol of evil.
Cullen’s grunge art displays a twisted sense of humour, which is exemplified not only in the title but the comical portrayal of the deceased human figure. He portrays the human figure naked but only wearing the Christian crusader's helmet, as a reference to Ned Kelly (Clement, 2008) who was a bushranger in Australia in the 19th century, and became an outlaw hero for the common people in Australia. In the context of the Iraq War, such criticism of Christianity, positions the artwork as a protest against United States involvement. Notably, President George W. Bush who had contributed to the ‘shock and awe’ bombing campaign and began military involvement on the 20th of March.
Cullen is criticising the Christianity’s confidence of combating evil. Notably, by illustrating the image of a goat as a metaphor for the devil, inferring its superiority regardless of the full devotion of Christianity inferred by Christian cross on the helmet of the killed human figure. Juxtaposing the ideology of good and evil-as the Christian in context of Iraq war commits sin and goes towards death. In a sense an indirect suicide. Furthermore, contradicting the messages of U.S. President George W. Bush, as in his speech at the Parkside Hall in California, 2002, he had clarified: "We're taking action against evil people. Because this great nation of many religions understands, our war is not against Islam, or against faith practiced by the Muslim people. Our war is a war against evil. This is clearly a case of good versus evil, and make no mistake about it, good will prevail" (Palmadessa, 2017, p.237). Such stance had progressed into compassionate conservatism, an aspect that had been highlighted throughout his presidency. Bush is a United Methodist Church member and had promoted faith-oriented organizations during his presidency. When it comes to the United States politics, religion, especially Christianity are inseparable. This is the reason why grunge bands like Soundgarden use religious imagery and references in their political protest songs.
Chris Cornell wrote ‘‘Stolen Prayer’’, ‘‘and ‘‘Unholy War’’ for Ozzy Osbourne but then these were given to Alice Cooper who released and recorded both on his album The Last Temptation (1994). And you can hear Cornell’s back vocals in both songs. ‘‘Unholy War’’ just like Cullen’s painting challenges the synergy between war and religion. In the music of Soundgarden, there are no songs which praise Christianity or religious beliefs, however they do utilise religious imagery actively to make political comments. However, one idea from Christianity is always praised and welcomed in the music of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell - Judgement Day. For example, ‘‘4th of July’’, ‘‘Black Hole Sun’’ and ‘‘Blow Up The Outside’’ all welcome the end of the world and the end of evil in humanity. Likewise, this is the case in ‘‘Unholy War’’ in which the narrator hopes and will get his ‘‘just rewards and you'll have your hell to pay’’. And this is bound to happen as ‘‘you're shaking in your boots because it's Judgement Day’’. But no matter what the narrator does he is unholy:
When I'm all alone - Unholy
With your thoughts of pain - Unholy
I can break on through - Unholy
With just an ounce of faith - Unholy
Unholy in every way, fighting for an unholy war ‘‘from the start of life
to my dying day’’, as ‘‘I can't walk away, I'm prime for the front line’’.
You see my burning fuse
From a mile away
I took your cruel abuse
Lord took away my shame
I learned to bite the hand
That used to pull my chain
We'll fight, cause we ain't on the same side
We're in an unholy war, unholy war
Notably, not only Cullen had criticized Christianity, Iraq War and President Bush, but also other musicians from the grunge movement with the best example of Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder wore a mask of President Bush whilst singing their protest song ‘’Bu$hleaguer’’(2002) at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (30/04/2003). Whilst getting booed after the performance, Vedder asked ‘‘You didn’t like that one, I don’t understand, maybe you like him because he is going to give you a tax cut? Maybe you like him because he is a real guy that relates to you, because he is so down home ?’’ And the crowd answered by chanting ‘‘USA!USA!USA!’’
Significantly, the anti-war, anti-religion and pro-democratic beliefs of the grunge movement, are persistent in grunge art. It is worth mentioning that the movement and its beliefs had been shared by artists beyond the US as the example of Cullen illustrates. Furthermore, such values have been illustrated through Cullen’s ‘’Ian Paisley’’ (2007) and ‘’Virgin Birth’’(2007) artworks, targeting the Northern Irish loyalist politician and Protestant religious leader Ian Paisley and the upper class with grotesque presentation of the subjects. Whilst, artists outside of the grunge movement category had expressed such values, it is worth mentioning that such beliefs are characteristic of the movement and had been expressed throughout the years, after the movement’s mainstream death.
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