In his latest series Monumental Nobodies, Australian artist Matthew Quick paints images of famous sculptures, but adds a mischievous modern twist to the classic statues by integrating modern gadgetry and pop culture references into the picture.
The idea of the series hit him as he pondered over history’s tendency to destroy art for ideological reasons: the destruction of buildings, burning of books, and the pulling down of statues. His paintings of statues, then, are vandalised in a unique way — he draws them listening to iPods, wearing rubber gloves, or surrounded by CCTV cameras. “From the people who build monuments in the first place, to those who destroy them… there is a thread running through all: the universal connection is about leaving a mark,” he says. “They are all trying to say: Here I am. I have existed.” Enjoy more of his work on his website and Instagram.