“Curated by postage stamp artist Michael Hernandez de Luna, the work in AXIS OF EVIL speaks directly and bluntly about present day issues, such as the war in Iraq, September 11, American foreign policy amongst other current events. The carnival of images resulting in AXIS OF EVIL is a provocative visual labyrinth of social commentary that reflects a historical parallel to protest art of the 60’s and 70’s.”

International Exhibition “Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin” at Columbia College Chicago. April, 2005.

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“Owing to a number of images that ridicule the president and members of his administration, the show has been called “anti-Bush” when, in fact, its theme is much broader. It addresses not just politicians of both major parties in the United States, but different political systems, the clergy, corporations, war, television, terrorism, gun culture, cigarette smokers and despoilers of the natural landscape in addition to the Seven Deadly Sins treated in art and literature.”

” ‘Axis of Evil’ contains sheets of artist-designed stamps from 11 countries. Because such stamps often are affixed to envelopes and sent through the mail, the work is a branch of correspondence art, which has been a recognized international movement since the early 1960s. However, because none of the stamps on view was used that way, the element of art as a guerrilla activity is not emphasized, though the theme of the show ensured that art would still be seen as an instrument of social protest.”

“The kinds of images found on the stamps are familiar from posters encountered at political rallies. There, of course, they preach to a choir that shares the same point of view, and no matter how overstated the criticism or broad the humor no one is offended. A gallery, on the other hand, is a venue that potentially serves visitors of every viewpoint, so the risk of giving offense is continuous. Hence, the call to the Secret Service almost immediately after the exhibition opened.”

“Few of the images are subtle; as with posters, the messages on stamps have to be conveyed forcefully, in an instant. This makes the prospect of their getting through the mail so delicious, for each stamp is usually perfectly clear as to what it’s about and, even so, passes undetected under the noses of people at some of the institutions being criticized. When shown, as here, in pristine sheets and blocks, its harder for the viewer to get that prankish aspect, but once grasped, the subversive humor lightens the tone of even more gruesome images.”

Source: http://www.badpressbooks.com/news.html