Michael X Rose creates neo-outsider hyper-narrative paintings where madness, mayhem and sublime beauty merge into bizarre narratives. We may discover a big foot fighting zombies, centaurs pillaging villages, colosseum fighters battling to the death, or ghosts haunting Nazis.
Like Barnett, Rose is unable to advertise his work on Instagram. These paintings do not meet community guidelines due to “sensational content, excessive violence, or it’s simple shocking material”. Rose takes this as a personal complement, even though it is hard from a career perspective. Instagram’s rejection claims to foster a “positive global community” yet it is unclear how this is being achieved.
The surreal painting above, featuring a brain transplanted automaton fighting Adolph Hitler, was deleted all together. Was it for violence or for representing a swastika? Instagram was not specific in it’s deletion.
It is unclear if Rose’s difficulty is due to nudity, violence, or just plain “being weird’. However, his works are paintings and should be allowed under current policies. In further insult, Instagram suggests “What to do next: Avoid using images or videos that may shock or scare users”. Essentially they are asking artists to sterilize their works and reinforce a mainstream echo chamber of highly stylized couch art.
IMAGE CREDIT: The Sacrificial Maiden on the Bier of the Druid Overlords, (III) Oil on canvas, 9”x 12”, Andromeda. Oil on canvas. 16”x 20”, Samson in the Temple of Dagon, Oil on canvas, 38”x 52”, The Robot Brain vs. Hitler's Corpse! . Casein on Panel, 12”x 16”. All Images Courtesy The Artist