Investigating the imperialistic power of the United States and the government serving corporate interests over the needs of the people in this painting "The US Embassy in Iraq." It is an arial view of the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
It is the largest embassy in the world and rivals the size of the Vatican. It initially cost $750 million dollars to build and continues to cost about $2 billion a year to operate and maintain, all courtesy of American tax payers.
The United States declares that "it remains dedicated to building a strategic partnership with Iraq and the Iraqi people. However, the same questions endure, why it the complex so large and why is it so unbelievably expensive?
While there is not much left to do in Iraq the continued price tag is concerning. Yes, the U.S. should continue to have a presence in the country but a modest down-sized version should suffice.
Perhaps it is arrogance, pretension, corporate interests or simply greed. Something needs to give.
The Embassy is also a symbol of years of occupation to the Iraqi people. They resent the complex and the fact that it blocks access to an idilic stretch of land along the Tigris River which would otherwise be a perfect place for strolling along and enjoying the breeze.
The painting has a very subtle gradated background of color ranging from blue to peach to pink. It is layered with many magazine clippings, layers of color, image transfers and charcoal.
The buildings and walls are cut out of magazine paper and painted over for an understated effect.
