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The Life Underground Sculpture Analysis

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Amongst the sculptures located in the subway system are many that are politically charged. One sculpture depicts a corrupt Politician with a moneybag for a head. Many of Otterness’ sculptures depicted political corruption and care class themed. One such sculpture, depicts a large, well dressed business man taking coins from a smaller more simply dressed man. (Blakinger, 2016) Otterness found inspiration for his Life Underground project from the artwork of Thomas Nast. Nast was a cartoonist who in his day drew political cartoons bringing to life the corruption of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed. One of Nast’s drawings depict Boss Tweed standing with a money bag for a head. It was this drawing the inspired Otterness to create sculptures with money bag heads to depict corruption. Otterness said that, “after …show more content…

Otterness got caught up in the project and ended up creating far more pieces than promised. He kept finding inspiration and intricate little places to put a sculpture. Otterness continue to provide works of art for the project, many of which he donated, to the tune of 130 sculptures in total. Four to five times the original agreed upon amount. Otterness used hid pieces to shine a light on the greed of the world and the struggle of the classes. Many of his pieces depict people with moneybag heads. Although humorous and lighthearted are meant to get people thinking. There of course are a few surrealist sculptures that do not have meaning, other than fitting in a particular spot. (Blakinger, 2016) Otterness admits that he has a favorite, he says that the bronze gets shiner the more people that rub the pieces. He is quoted as saying, “I guess another one of my favorites is the moneybag head on the staircase,” Otterness said. “He’s polished to this bright shine from people handling him. I figure they’re on the way to work and going to play the numbers and they rub him for a bit of luck.” (Blakinger, 2016, p.

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