Ruination
Every painting in Chronicle of an Unquiet Age documents the defining events, people, and issues that shaped its moment in history. Created in real time as events unfolded, each work serves as both an original oil painting and a historical record, reflecting the belief that the news of today is the history of tomorrow.
TRTA-2022-055 | September 2022 | Oil on Canvas | 34" x 26"
The definition of "Ruination is the state of being Ruined." On September 1, 2022 Biden gave a speech at Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of America. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed in this building. Using this sacred and historical location, Biden gave a hate filled speech in a blood red and dark black backdrop. The American people were shocked at the vitriol and hatred he spoke about Republicans and MAGA supporters. His divisive rhetoric vilified millions of Americans and will go down as the most hateful speeches in Presidential history. Words like Hitler, Dictator and hashtags like #demonic, #satanic and #darkbiden flooded social media. Why.. if you claim to the the President of all people would you use such decisive and desparaging language to incite vioence and hate against each other and projecting such anger on the people? Biden paints his political opponents as threats to democracy. This was Biden's Deplorable Moment. And the question is who is orchestrating these events and speeches...and more importantly...WHY?
September 2022, President Biden’s Philadelphia speech warning about threats to democracy sparked intense national reaction. Its dramatic red-lit staging and confrontational tone were praised by supporters and condemned by critics, quickly becoming one of the defining political images of the month. Ruination reflects the backlash and growing sense of national fracture that followed.
The composition features Biden Trump and Dan Bongino and Stephen Miller, David Harris Jr. three prominent conservative voices who sharply criticized the administration, alongside references to the speech, the approaching midterm elections, inflation, border security, crime, and declining public trust. Their presence places the painting within the media and political response that dominated the news cycle.
The title suggests damage caused by deepening division, hostile rhetoric, and a country increasingly at war with itself. It captures a moment when many Americans believed unity was giving way to open political ruin.
