Peter Saul’s multi-colored canvas has become synonymous with contemporary anti-authoritarian art. The 86-year-old Canadian continues to shock the world with his art’s repulsive elements that blend in with the techno-colors of Saul’s paintings. His work dates back to the fifties, and his artwork continues to be displayed in the most renowned art galleries. Saul’s art is also known to be very vulgar and grotesque, which has received critique; however, this reaction to his art is what Saul seeks. If you have recently been seeing Saul’s name plastered over social media and you’re wondering who he is, read on to discover more about the anti-authoritarian artist.
Inspiration
Although his art is heavily influenced by the abstract expressionist art movement, American history has always been Saul’s primary influence when it came to subject matter. His scathing art ridicules positions of authority and exposes the double standards of the American authoritarian capitalist regime.
In the fifties and sixties, the Canadian artist lived in Europe as an artist, which surely influenced his work further. This was around the time when he became a predecessor to the Pop movement in the Western art scene. It’s also believed that his friendship with the contemporary surrealist artist, Roberto Matta, was his major influence on his multi-colored aesthetics. Saul’s works are often repulsive to look at, and that’s the reaction that he seeks. Ugliness, to Saul, is what catches the viewer’s eye and invites a critique. This is his manner in spreading awareness about the double standards of America’s, supposedly liberal, government.
Many of his pieces were also influenced by the Vietnam War, which he had lived first-hand. In a recent interview, the artist explained how he joined the protests against the Vietnam War and watched everyone around him get beaten by the police. He was one of the few, if not, the only protestor that was not touched by the police. He believes it was because he was dressed in a suit and was overall nicely groomed.
It is instances like these that make the artist stand out, as though his statements do not just boil down to his art. A nicely groomed Peter Saul stood amongst rioting civilians, his appearance itself is mocking the authoritarian capitalist regime, which compelled police officers to presume that he worked with secret intelligence based on the way he was dressed.
Critique and Famous Works
The reason why Peter Saul stands out amongst similar artists is because of how quickly he could influence the public as well as the art scene with his work. Saul incorporates the gloom of the surrealist art with his own scathing elements of political critique. While his protests never got him in much trouble, his art surely did, but that didn’t stop other artists from getting inspired by his works; Pretty Neat Creative is known for its multi-colored diamond paintings with a clear trace of Saul’s aesthetic style and they have made it a point to manufacture art pieces to engage more artists with this style. Some people may not be able to paint, but art has an endless array of mediums that people can choose from. This has paved the way for other art dealers to follow in Saul’s footsteps. Some artists have chosen to be inspired by the satirical elements of his work, while others have been influenced by the techno-colored world that this ingenious artist has created.
That said, Saul’s art is not for pretentious elites, either. His paintings can be quite deliberately vulgar. Elites consider him a provocateur, while the grotesque element of his pieces would certainly confirm that. Leading art galleries in New York City would publicly display his collections in an exhibition named Piss and Vinegar, which quite suits the themes of Saul’s pieces.
While critics would denounce his work as utterly vulgar, the crass elements of his work are intentional, making him one of the leading artists of our time. Going beyond the parapet of “good taste” is what Saul seeks to do with every piece he releases. The purpose of his art is not to evoke awe, but to elicit disgust and contempt for the cruel authoritarian regime. And of course, because his art critiques the capitalist government, none of his works are for sale. He believes that his art is to be displayed to the public and never owned by elites who can afford the price tags on famous artworks.
Peter Saul continues to stir controversy with his artwork, which is widely displayed in the most renowned art galleries around the world. While his work is not for sale, Saul believes it’s for the public to admire, and is not meant to be owned by one person. The 86-year-old ingenious painter is now one of the leading artists of the modern surrealist movement, which is known for its scathing satirical elements that protest the authoritarian regime.