Coup-Monger Against a Background of Bars

Michael C. Moynihan | September 18, 2008

It ain't quite Damien Hirst, but this awful canvas by Hugo Chavez, painted during his brief stint in prison for attempting to overthrow the Venezuelan government, fetched $255,000 at auction today. The proceeds will be used, according to The Guardian, to "help fund his socialist revolution"—a task the government has thus far found slightly challanging, despite record oil revenues.

And just when I was about to question President Chavez's credentials as an artist, the Guardian warned me that "Chávez's artistic credentials are not in question." Indeed, he once drew pictures of fellow students in high school:

As a boy in Sabaneta, a dusty, poor town in the plains, he used to paint friends, animals and landscapes. As a military cadet he drew caricatures of his comrades for their graduating yearbook.

Asked last year why he wanted to abolish term limits so he could run indefinitely - he has spoken of ruling until 2025 - the president said his revolution was like an unfinished painting and he was the artist. Giving the brush to someone else was risky, "because they could have another vision, start to alter the contours of the painting."

Comments

Fluffy|9.18.08 @ 3:04PM|#

Chavez could enter himself in the Olympics as both halves of the Venezuelan ice dancing team and the Guardian would tell you his credentials were beyond question.

|9.18.08 @ 3:16PM|#

So he's a New Realist?

|9.18.08 @ 3:17PM|#

I wasn't aware artists needed credentials. It's a subjective talent, based on whether other people place value on your work.

Abdul|9.18.08 @ 3:19PM|#

He's an artist? Well, no one who paints scenic postcards could ever turn out to be a violent dictator.

|9.18.08 @ 3:26PM|#

There is nothing more dangerous than a failed artist who gets political. Take it from me, I should know.

|9.18.08 @ 3:27PM|#

I wasn't aware artists needed credentials.

Your canvasses, please.

|9.18.08 @ 3:29PM|#

Awwww... poor Hugo really just wants to dance.

Hogan|9.18.08 @ 3:31PM|#

That's not the worst painting I've ever seen. I don't need to look at it again, but it's not that bad.

|9.18.08 @ 3:36PM|#

You know, sometimes I post witty comments on the Internet. Does that mean my literary credentials are beyond question?

|9.18.08 @ 3:43PM|#

But can he play golf like Kim Jong Il?

Godwin|9.18.08 @ 3:45PM|#

Do you know who else liked to paint?

|9.18.08 @ 3:49PM|#

LOL, at least he is DOING something about it and trying to make it right unlike the lazy Sheeple of the US who just sit back and whine, whip out the Vaseline and take it! Grow up sheeple.

Bumpa
www.anonymize.us.tc

Joseph Biden|9.18.08 @ 3:54PM|#

The proceeds will be used, according to The Guardian, "help fund his socialist revolution"

What a patriot. If only Americans were this patriotic.

dhex|9.18.08 @ 4:20PM|#

yeah that's really not terrible at all.

not fantasticos or nuttin', but still. hardly terrible.

libertarian democrat|9.18.08 @ 4:45PM|#

I'm not saying I'm a fan of it, but Moynihan's response to it seems more based on politics than the guardians. It's not great, or even good, but I would give it a solid Okay.

It's not bad, certainly not awful.

Naga Sadow|9.18.08 @ 5:16PM|#

I'll donate everything I have to his "revolution" in exchange for one good kick to Chavez's cojones.

|9.18.08 @ 5:27PM|#

wouldn't it be nice if he could paint another one from inside another jail cell? perhaps one with a view of hell?
just sayin'.

economist|9.18.08 @ 6:45PM|#

Naga Shadow,
I would donate everything I have to his "revolution" in exchange for the chance to cut off his balls.

*|9.18.08 @ 7:17PM|#

Chavez = a waste of human flesh.

Moynihan = simply a waste of time.

BakedPenguin|9.18.08 @ 8:50PM|#

dhex, libertarian democrat - are we looking at the same painting? I've seen better shit from Bob Ross wannabes painting happy clouds.

Derrick|9.19.08 @ 12:08AM|#

Yeah, that painting suxorz. I've taken poops that look better than that. Not in jail, though.

Mike Laursen|9.19.08 @ 1:56AM|#

Just so we're all clear on what truly awful paintings look like:
http://www.thomaskinkade.com/

|9.19.08 @ 3:01AM|#

This reminds me of the movie "Mickey Blue Eyes". In that movie, the mob was laundering money by having people pay ridiculous sums for gawdawful art that was painted by a mobster.