Based on the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood 1930 - Oil on beaverboard
The barcode series of paintings by Mr Brainwash could be classified as op, pop or appropriation art. The barcode stenciling distorts our visual perception of the image, and although only "half" the painting the effectively there, the viewer is able to visualise the complete painting. In addition, the barcode numbers are subversive code language for a statement that can only be translated by the artist. By doing so the artist reveals but also hides the painting from the viewer, questioning how much of what we classify as art can be determined solely by the visual field.
