History Already Absolved Me / Puzzling Pop Putin

HISTORY ALREADY ABSOLVED ME | Puzzling Pop Project

Unique piece edition 
Andrea Morucchio’s Puzzling Pop project, launched in 2019 with the Puzzling Warhol series, unveils a provocative new series, History Already Absolved Me, as a unique piece edition. This collection features digital collage portraits meticulously crafted from fragments of butterfly wings, a signature technique refined through earlier works such as Fantastic Portrait, Puzzling My Top Pop Icons, and the NFT series APOTI, Making Faces. The vibrant, multicolored aesthetic rooted in Pop Art traditions underscores Morucchio’s innovative approach to contemporary art.

The first two portraits in this series depict Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The title drawing inspiration from Fidel Castro’s defiant 1953 statement during his trial after the failed Moncada assault: “Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” 

Each artwork pairs a neo-pop portrait with a brass plaque engraved with this phrase, encased in an opulent antique classical wood frame. The stark contrast between the modern, vivid aesthetic and the solemn, classical frame amplifies the work’s provocative message, compelling viewers to reflect deeply on its themes.

Challenging Mainstream Propaganda

At its core, History Already Absolved Me is a bold critique of Western mainstream propaganda, which Morucchio argues has systematically vilified leaders like Putin and Trump to uphold a globalist "liberal-democratic" financial system. This system, the artist contends, has driven the West toward economic collapse and the brink of a third world war, echoing President Eisenhower’s 1961 warning about the "military-industrial complex"—an invisible force manipulating politics and public opinion. Since 9/11, intensified information control, particularly during the so-called "psychopandemic," has entrenched a singular narrative, blurring the line between reality and orchestrated manipulation in a manner reminiscent of dystopian fiction.

Propaganda Against Putin

Western media has often portrayed Vladimir Putin as an authoritarian aggressor, fueling Russophobia through selective narratives and exaggerated threats. This propaganda, Morucchio suggests, serves to justify NATO’s expansion, economic sanctions, and military escalation, aligning with the interests of the financial and military-industrial elite. However, Putin’s actions—such as stabilizing Russia’s economy, resisting Western hegemony, and advocating for a multipolar world—challenge this narrative. For instance, Russia’s strategic partnerships with BRICS nations and its resilience against sanctions demonstrate a pragmatic leadership that counters the West’s depiction of Putin as a reckless dictator. Morucchio’s portrait of Putin, vibrant yet framed in solemnity, symbolizes this tension between demonization and the emerging truth of his role in averting global conflict.

The Triumph of Truth

Morucchio’s History Already Absolved Me asserts that the propaganda orchestrated by Western financial elites, using fake news and sophisticated social engineering, is destined to crumble. Both Putin and Trump, through their actions, are smentendo—disproving—the narratives constructed against them. Putin’s strategic restraint in global conflicts and Trump’s disruption of establishment norms highlight their roles in challenging a system that, as Morucchio sees it, has pushed the West toward catastrophe. The butterfly-wing collages, fragile yet vibrant, symbolize the delicate yet resilient truth emerging against a backdrop of deception.

The series invites viewers to question the power of narrative, reflect on media manipulation, and recognize the inevitable triumph of reality over propaganda. By framing these leaders in a neo-pop aesthetic, Morucchio not only reclaims their image from vilification but also celebrates their defiance of a manipulative system. History Already Absolved Me is a powerful call to awaken public consciousness, urging viewers to see beyond the distortions of the mainstream and embrace the truth that history, ultimately, will vindicate.

The artwork was premiered in 2024 as part of the SAS Secret Apartment Show #SASVenice exhibition project  during the latest Venice Biennale.

History Already Absolved Me | Vladimir Putin | Puzzling Pop series

HISTORY ALREADY ABSOLVED ME
Puzzling Pop Series

The Puzzling Pop project expands with a provocative new series: History Already Absolved Me, featuring digital collage portraits meticulously crafted using fragments of butterfly wings.

This technique continues the artistic path of Puzzling Pop, launched in 2019 with Puzzling Warhol and later developed through works like "Fantastic Portrait", "Puzzling My Top Pop Icons, and the NFT series "Making Faces".

The first portrait in this series is dedicated to Vladimir Putin. The title reinterprets Fidel Castro’s famous statement during his trial after the failed Moncada assault in 1953: “Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.”

The artwork features a portrait alongside a brass plaque engraved with this phrase, all enclosed in an opulent black and gold classical frame. The contrast between the "neo-pop" aesthetic and the solemn frame enhances the work’s meaning, provoking reflection.

Beyond aesthetics, the piece challenges mainstream narratives. Like other leaders opposing the Western "liberal-democratic" system, Putin has been demonized through media and political propaganda, fueling Russophobia and shaping public perception.

This dynamic is not new. In 1961, President Eisenhower warned of the "military-industrial complex," an invisible force influencing politics and public opinion. Today, media and governments seem fully aligned with this logic, making it harder to distinguish reality from manipulation.

Since 9/11, information control in Western democracies has intensified, culminating in a single dominant narrative during the "psychopandemic"—a scenario reminiscent of dystopian fiction.

Yet even the most pervasive deceptions eventually crumble. History Already Absolved Me invites reflection on these themes, hoping awareness will one day prevail over manipulation.

The artwork was premiered in 2024 as part of the SAS Secret Apartment Show #SASVenice exhibition project  during the latest Venice Biennale.