Paul McCarthy
Mickey Mouse
2010
Mickey Mouse
To make Mickey Mouse , Paul McCarthy altered a found photograph—not of the iconic cartoon, but a man costumed as Mickey. He supports an enormous false head on his shoulders, Mickey’s familiar face grinning with glossy eyes. The artist has marked out in heavy black the background of Cinderella’s castle. Robbed of his context, the character becomes the sole focus of the image, a subject of unusual scrutiny. Under this close examination, his torso and legs begin to seem strange—too human for his extremities—and his friendly wave starts to look less like that of a childhood hero and more like that of a politician. With McCarthy’s intervention, the famous mouse is upstaged by his own artificiality.
??Paul McCarthy is known for his transgressive performance art pieces that often challenge social conventions. Undoubtedly one of the main figures in the West Coast contemporary art scene, McCarthy uses various forms from pop culture as source material to cast a critical look at American society and consumerism. His provocative works are infused with a particularly poignant sense of humor, investigating the intricacies of human psychology and exposing the absurdities and darker aspects of consumer culture. McCarthy's diverse body of work spans performance, sculpture, video, and installation, often blending grotesque imagery with satirical commentary. His art provokes strong reactions, compelling audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about societal norms and the human condition. Over his prolific career, McCarthy has solidified his reputation as a fearless and influential figure in contemporary art, continually pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and cultural critique.