Max Ernst Big Brother: Teaching Staff For A School Of Murderers

Ivan Klein
July 2020

Max Ernst Big Brother: Teaching Staff For A School Of Murderers, Kasmin Gallery, Spring 2017

Big Brother is all eyes and ears – a vaguely military monument of a
bronze cap on his smooth buff head, but no heart whatsoever. Coldly set down
on stone, could he possibly believe that his enthronement is the result of
overwhelming popular sentiment?

Séraphin the Novice –

Blindfolded and hence eternally sightless, he has an antic tongue
jutting out of his mouth that may be described as contending toward the all-
knowing. Seated somewhere below his sister seraph and fellow undercover
operative, he is the saddest comedown from the highest order of the angels.

Séraphim Cherubin –

Eyes, a head, a platform upon which to rest. – Dubbed by Ernst,
the drollest of artists as “la plus belle” – the most beautiful.

Her knees rather squeezed together – am I imagining a state of
repression, or is that just for appearance’s sake?

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Ivan Klein published Toward Melville, a book of poems from New Feral Press, in July 2018. Previously published Alternatives to Silence from Starfire Press and the chapbook Some Paintings by Koho & A Flower Of My Own from Sisyphus Press. His work has been published in the Forward, Urban Graffiti, Otoliths, and numerous other periodicals.