Does the election of Barack Obama symbolize a victory of substance over cynicism or of packaging over product? That’s the primary question two artists raise with Breakfast of Champions, their portrait of President Obama made of sugary cereal O’s.
Unlike Zilly Rosen’s recent cupcake presidential portraits, this one is not just for fun. Hank Willis Thomas and Ryan Alexiev are accomplished artists who collaborate frequently. Thomas’ work focuses on race, class and identity in the age of consumerism and Alexiev explores the social implications of consumerism.
To quote from the Cerealart website, “The sugary sweet mosaic, made of thousands of cereal bits, depicts [an] idea of what a healthily balanced breakfast (democracy) might look like when considering the role that marketing plays in myth building around corporate and political brands.”
The site offers close-up views of the portrait and a limited-edition poster.
