Empire of Lightning (after Magritte’s Clear Ideas), 2016
scanner, synthetic cotton, repeat cycle timer, 5-gallon bucket, saltwater
70” x 40” x 12”
Joe Hedges Empire of Lightning, 2016 scanner, synthetic cotton, repeat cycle timer, 5-gallon bucket, saltwater 70” x 40” x 12”
An homage to surrealist painter Magritte. Like many of Magritte’s paintings, the piece conjures ideas about image-making technology, the picture plane and the forces of nature with a bit of humor. The bucket of saltwater implies the ocean, evaporation and potential while the intermittent flashes of light represent lightning. Could alternatively be installed with the addition of an aquarium water pump.
