SIMULACRUM OF NAPOLEON

Deni Junaedi, Simulacrum of Napoleon, 2009, acrylic on canvas, 162 x 140 cm

Simulacrum of Napoleon is parody of Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801). The painting depicts simulacrum in the consumerism society. Simulacrum is artificially condition, not real or hyperreality. In the capitalism era, capitalists often exploit kids in simulacrum manner to get fun, in this case is as if heroic like Napoleon. Remember that aesthetics formula in Classic age is form follow meaning, in Modern thought is form follow function, and in Postmodern philosophy is form follow fun. I thing it is not form follow fun but form follow fund.

Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801