Conspiracy Theory

Jackson Pollock - Abstract Expressionist artist and psyop master.

As an artist, I try to keep up to date on art news and related topics that are floating around. With so much information out there nowadays, that can be a daunting task. As a result, sometimes I'm late for the party, as it were. But as is often the case, old ideas, styles and trends often comes back in fashion again like an old pair of low-rise jeans.

True, conspiracy theories have always been with us like a recurring bad rash; talk about secret government projects such as MKUltra, the Montauk Project, or shadow organizations like the Illuminati or the so-called Deep State - conspiracy theories are part and parcel of the human experience, it seems.

One idea that I’ve seen thrust back into the zeitgeist is the idea that modern art, specifically Abstract Expressionism, was really a psyop set up by the CIA.

Local definitions of a psyop, or Psychological Operation may vary, but for our purposes here know that Merriam-Webster defines it as:

"a military operation usually aimed at influencing the enemy's state of mind through noncombative means (such as distribution of leaflets)."

It's important to note that a psyop can utilize diverse media, including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and even art. This is where Jackson Pollock comes in. Pollock (1912-1956) was a key figure in the abstract expressionist art movement, which appeared to emerge from the anxiety and dynamic energy of the post-war, post-modern era.

Jackson Pollock Convergence - oil on Canvas,93.5 in × 155 in, 1952

Abstract expressionism gained notoriety after World War II and was accepted into the mainstream during the 1950s. While abstract expressionism has its detractors, the CIA saw the movement as a means to combat Socialist Realism. Not to be confused with social realism, which is a type of art that depicts social concerns through realistically rendered images. Socialist realism is, or rather was, the official doctrine of the Soviet Union. As such, it mandated an idealized representation of life under socialism through literature and the arts.

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, The Death of the Political Commissar, 1928 - An example of Socialist Realism.

Following World War II, the United States entered a Cold War with the Soviet Union, accompanied by a cultural conflict. Abstract expressionism, with its vibrant energy, was perceived as a means to counteract this. This art style is defined by its entirely abstract nature, with minimal representation of physical objects. Influenced partly by Surrealism, prominent Abstract Expressionists included Willem de Kooning, Elaine de Kooning, Lee Krasner, and Norman Lewis, among others.

Excavation, another example of Abstract Expressionist art by Willem de Kooning.

"If that’s art, I’m a Hottentot" - Harry S. Truman

As I mentioned earlier, the art style had its share of detractors. Describing it, Harry Truman once supposedly said, “If that’s art, I’m a Hottentot” (his words, not mine. Hottentot is now considered a derogatory description of the Khoekhoe people). Despite that, what is true is that the CIA saw it as an expression of freedom of expression and dynamism, elements they felt were lacking in Soviet culture. Often, artists like Pollock and de Kooning were unaware of the CIA's involvement in pushing the Expressionist agenda once the organization chose to use it as a cultural weapon. In fact, according to many sources, the CIA contributed to the development of the Congress for Cultural Freedom. This anti-communist organization (1950) was actually founded in West Berlin and at one point was active in 35 different countries before it ended in 1967.

In 1966, it was disclosed that the CIA played a significant role in the creation and financing of the organization. The purpose was to engage intellectuals and opinion leaders in an ideological battle against communism.

Woman on A Bicycle - by Willem de Kooning 1952

All of this should really come as no surprise- almost since the beginning, once humans began to use implements to draw, paint, or sculpt, art has been used to shape how people think. I’ve mentioned in other posts how art has been used to decry or promote war and military action.

Guernica by Pablo Picasso was a powerful anti-war painting completed in 1937 in response to the German bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War

Conspiracies abound - and it seems to be no end to the theories that persist. But one thing that remains true is the power of art to make a statement. So if you ever feel compelled to make a statement of your own, just break out your brushes, paints, or medium of choice. Go wild and channel your inner Jackson Pollock.

See you next time for something completely different.