Naoki Fuku darkgothicMAGA, 2024

With final touches added on November 6, 'MAGA' and 'Dark Gothic MAGA' launch the 15 Minutes of Face project, capturing Donald Trump and Elon Musk in their full complexity—iconic, enigmatic, and layered. Through intricate, abstract patterns, these works invite reflection on the boundary between reality and perception, exploring the powerful roles these figures play in shaping culture. Crafted with respect and curiosity, they balance myth and truth, offering a nuanced portrayal of these influential icons.

As the series evolves, it will expand to include a select group of prominent figures and a limited number of individual participants—up to 200—who will receive both original canvases and NFTs. In this project, I challenge the notions of "original" versus "copy" in today’s art market, especially in the digital realm where NFTs have redefined concepts of authenticity and value. Much like Warhol’s playful critique of consumerism and mass production, 15 Minutes of Face questions how the art world navigates the tension between reality and reproduction, originality and market forces, prompting a deeper reflection on what we consider "authentic" art in an era where digital and physical blur together.

Naoki Fuku is a Japanese artist, born in Tokyo. His oeuvre consists of paintings, performances, installations, and object works, which often take a mixed view on social, political, cultural and personal issues in both systematic as well as poetic ways, inviting the viewers to move into a space of speculation. The works of Naoki Fuku appeal to the viewers’ most intimate self in the middle of today’s exhausting life.