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.
