Many Canadians averted their collective gaze last week as a somewhat disturbing image made the rounds through the media.
If you’ve ever secretly fantasized about our prime minister in the buff you may want to check it out. But beware - you can’t erase something like this from your memory.
Not long ago there was a juried art exhibition in Kingston, Ont. One of the entries was a painting by visual artist Margaret Sutherland entitled Emperor Haute Couture.
The subject of the portrait was a naked Stephen Harper complete with partial regalia, wearing nothing but that characteristic Harper smirk.
The jury was stunned. When I accidentally saw it myself I quickly looked away but it was too late. It was already etched on my brain. The damage was done.
The painting is a modern interpretation of an 1893 canvas by Edouard Manet. That means it’s real classy, right? Mr. Harper can be seen reclining on a chaise lounge, totally nude. A small dog is keeping his feet warm. He is posed in front of a gaggle of lackeys who are seen from their neckties down.
A female lackey is serving the prime minister a Tim Horton’s coffee on a silver tray. It looks like it might be a medium but who’s to say if the painting is done to scale. The PM’s head looks a little small too. I don’t think he actually posed for this portrait.
Following the exhibition the painting was hung in a community meeting room at the Kingston Public Library for public viewing.
Since the room is also used for children’s recitals the offending member from Calgary West is removed when there are kids in the room.
Ms. Sutherland defends her work as political satire using a contemporary figure in a classical pose.
It is also inspired by the children’s story of The Emperor’s New Clothes. It is intended to be controversial.
It is a criticism of the Harper government, its philosophy and its programs including a cutback on funding to the arts. The woman serving coffee reflects the lack of women holding influential cabinet positions in the Conservative ranks.
As for Mr. Harper’s attire – that’s where the kid’s story comes in.
The prime minister is surrounded by people who tell him what he wants to hear. Even if he did show up naked for question period one day it is unlikely that any Conservative MP would remind the prime minister that it wasn’t casual Friday. In this portrait at least, he is exposed.
The reactions to Steve’s naked hams are many and varied. Tim Horton’s is a little miffed, not to mention concerned for the PM’s safety. Some Kingston Public Library patrons think it is inappropriate to have something like this hung on the meeting room wall. Others, myself included, wish they had never laid eyes on it in the first place.
The online comments are amusing. They include “ewwww, barf,” “my eyes, my eyes” and a very concerned, “please do not put this on our money.”
There is an online caption contest for the PM’s portrait. Two of my favorites are “Free Willy” and “Small ‘c’ Conservative.”
The Emperor Haute Couture is on sale for $5,000. I’m sure there will be some interested buyers, perhaps even the opposition parties. They could use it to keep the prime minister in check during the next election.
Liberal Scott Brison said he doesn’t care who buys it or where it goes adding, “I’m sure it will be well hung somewhere.”
As you can see, there is no shortage of puns and groaners on this subject. Canadians love satire and they love to laugh.
Maybe this will signal the beginning of a new approach to federal politics in this country, one with a little more good humour and a lot less cynicism and sarcasm.
Let’s take this idea to the next level. Before the next federal election I look forward to the first Naked Leader’s Debate.
Only those national leaders with nothing to hide will be allowed on stage. For the protection of the viewers all questionable bits will be pixilated out of focus.
Some respected art critics say that Ms. Sutherland paid him a compliment when she painted Mr. Harper 30 to 40 pounds lighter than he really is.
Personally, I was happy to hear this. Even if I don’t have the political connections for the job, it’s still good to know I do have the girth to be prime minister.
