Artist Mideo Cruz explains idea behind his ‘LordDigs’ print

On August 29, artist Mideo Cruz released a curious portrait on his social media accounts. It’s a photo of President Duterte’s face photoshopped into what Catholics will recognize as a portrait of the Sacred Heart.

In his left hand is a gun, instead of the earth, and quickly you’ll notice something’s amiss: It’s the Sacred Heart without the heart. At the bottom it says “Our Father.”

According to Cruz, “LordDigs” is the latest of his neo deities series, which was triggered by a meme about 17-year-old Kian delos Santos. “People are mobilizing for his sainthood. Of course it was fake news pero siguro ito din yung nag motivate na ilabas ko na itong LordDigs,” Cruz says.

The Neo Deities series started in the '90s, and includes one on Ferdinand Marcos and another on Cory Aquino. 

“Part din ng deconstruction ko ng sacredness ng iconography, or you might call it iconoclasm, and I’m reconstructing it to put new meanings,” Cruz tells GMA News Online via email. “In this case, I used the image of Digong and his messianic attitude to save us from the ‘hell’ the country is facing today.”

Cruz continues: “Nabubuo ang mga icon ng celebrities, politicians and other popular images na nagsisislbing idolo na nag-re-relieve sa atin at nagmimistulang shield ng mga kinatatakutan nating bagay o pangyayari.

"Yung series ko ng neo deities are basically new iconographies we worship as humans. Where it might unconsciously developed trough cultural transformations kasi if you are conscious about it you might be already empowered to resist.”

His "Marcos No Hero" was sparked by the burial issue while his Cory print — "Our Lady of Mendiola 200 edition" – was "triggered by the sainthood issue naman.”

The Nueva Ecija-based artist says he wants for whoever seeing “LordDigs” to realize “how we are creating our gods. Or let’s say how we devote ourselves to someone to save us instead of us working for things that can concretely make transformations.

"An image might be traumatic but an image or the trauma created by the image can provoke us to think. It can be a catalyst for a realization to initiate a radical transformation.”

“LordDigs” is a limited edition print. Only 100 pieces are available, and goes for just P100 each (plus P120 for shipping). Since releasing it on social media, Cruz says about 85 percent of the prints has been reserved while 10 percent has been paid. "A bulk who bought and reserved are artists, writers, musicians – most are not in favor of the current political leadership, although there are some who I know to be his supporters also asked for reservation.”

Says Cruz, he will do Trump next “and an Imelda na matagal ko na ring gustong gawin.”

When asked if he’s been attacked by hardcore Duterte fanatics, Cruz who calls himself a “troll survivor” says “The DDS are not yet invading my wall. O baka nagustuhan din naman nila [yung ‘LordDigs’].”   /kvd