A professor at an Alaska university has put a painting featuring President Donald Trump’s decapitated head on display at the college art gallery.
Thomas Chung, assistant professor of painting at the University of Alaska Anchorage, painted a portrait of Captain America actor Chris Evans standing naked and holding up Trump’s severed head, KTUU reported. Two large birds, apparently eagles, are behind Evans and a young-looking Hillary Clinton sits at the actor’s feet, holding onto his left leg.
Univ. of Alaska Anchorage displays professor Thomas Chung’s painting that depicts severed head of POTUS #Trump. #UAApic.twitter.com/sTYRe2L3m0
— GOP News Brief
“I was reminded of those ’80s rock posters,” said Chung, “where there’s a woman in tattered clothes clinging to a strong male hero’s leg.”
The professor explained that the 2016 presidential election results influenced his painting.
“After Trump was elected, I spent days just weeping,” the professor said. “And it was really surprising, because I’m not a political person. I am a social artist. I deal mostly in ideals of culture and global culture, but this election bled into that.”
Paul Berger, a former Anchorage professor and self-described conservative, shared his opinion on the painting.
“The painting itself, I kind of found disturbing,” Berger told KTUU. “The image itself was very graphic. So from that point of view, and as a father, trying to explain to my children what the artist is trying to say … [it’s] difficult.” He added:
Had the roles been reversed, and it was [President Barack] Obama’s head hanging there, I think the outrage would be fantastic. As a free speech advocate, everyone has a right to express their opinion the way they want to express them. But as a parent and a citizen, there’s a discussion. In a university setting, what’s appropriate?
The Daily Caller News Foundation sought comment from Chung, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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