Description

Father 4.1 (A)

Continuing with his Digital Dilemma theme, in which he comments on the world’s ever-increasing digitisation, Novak again utilises Emojis to represent the ‘shortening’ of interpersonal communication.

His fascination with popular culture comes to the fore with Darth Vader caught mid pose reaching out to Luke as he tempts him to rule the galaxy ‘as father and son’.

“This, in my opinion, is the greatest twist in cinema history. Luke races to confront and kill the villain, who ends up professing that he is, in fact, Luke’s father.”

-Brad Novak (2025)

In the pose, Novak also sees similarities with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In the play, Hamlet converses with the skull of a person he once knew. The scene uses comedy to comment on larger issues regarding life and death. It hints at the vanity of life and the existential crisis we humans face. Novak leverages this imagery to highlight a clever nexus where pop culture meets fine art.

Year: 2025

Edition: 15

Titled: Yes

Signed: Yes

Numbered: Yes

Size: 76.0 cm (w) x 56.0 cm (h)

Medium: Four colour screen print on Fabriano 300gsm Italian art paper

NB There is also a Red Eye version of this piece available here: