Artist: James Chiew
Title: Freedom was never free
Technique:  mixed media / high gloss resin
Size: 170x70cm

A vibrant clash of color explodes across the canvas, demanding attention with its sheer audacity. This isn’t your grandfather’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Here, the stoic 16th president adopts a decidedly non-presidential stance, middle fingers defiantly extended. The iconic stovepipe hat sits askew, seemingly as surprised by Lincoln’s outburst as the viewer.

The artwork, titled “Freedom was never free,” is a provocative blend of pop art sensibilities and historical iconography. Crafted from aluminum, pigments, and a high-gloss resin, the piece pulsates with energy. The resin layer creates a mirror-like finish, reflecting the viewer’s own image back at them, challenging them to confront Lincoln’s gesture and the bold statement emblazoned across the painting: “Let’s Make Everything F***ing Great Again.”

The use of profanity adds a layer of shock value, jolting the viewer out of any complacency they might have harbored. It forces a confrontation with the question: what exactly is greatness, and who gets to define it?

Whether one finds the piece irreverent or thought-provoking, one thing is certain: “Freedom was never free” is not a work of art that will easily be ignored. It is a conversation starter, a challenge to traditional perceptions, and a vibrant testament to the power of art to provoke, question, and inspire.