Overpopulation

TITLE: Overpopulation
DATE: October 2010
PRICE: Indian Rupee (INR) 1,210,193,422
PREFERRED BUYER: National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India
CONDITIONS OF SALE: It has to be exhibited free of charge for at least 100 days each year at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, and also has to be offered for a free display to the National Art Gallery in Islamabad, Pakistan.
TECHNIQUE: Oil on canvas, unframed.
DIMENSIONS: 45 x 38 cm
STORY: In this painting our beautiful "green" planet is reduced to a narrow blue-green band, while the major part of the large circle is filled with black, red, white and yellow (a very simplified and somewhat derogatory way to present four major human races). The silver circle on top represents the Moon, fortunately still unspoiled by human exploitation. Note that human racial colours are roughly distributed as they are on the globe. Also, red, white and yellow are applied in such a way that the black undercoat is partly visible beneath, referring to the fact that most of the genetic diversity of humanity is present in Africa (we are all black). The blue-green band is not vibrant in colour but rather dull, suggesting that our few remaining uninhabited places are under a constant treat. The price of this painting is astronomical, of course, but it costs only one rupee per person for all people of India to enjoy forever.