Robert Brinker, Queen of Scandal, 2007, graphite on paper, Mylar, 50 × 76 inches. Albright-Knox Gallery Collection.

       Robert Brinker, Queen of Scandal, 2007, graphite on paper, Mylar, 50 × 76 inches. Albright-Knox Gallery Collection.
       Robert Brinker’s cutouts look like they were inspired by the traditional folk art of banner cutting. The images seem to be created from the sensual details of Disney cartoons – funny cute creatures, beautiful princesses, handsome princes and evil witches. I have a confession to make here: as a child, I was mesmerized when I first saw the movie Sleeping Beauty and had to be dragged out of the theater after my Aunt Tia watched it twice in a row; I want to be wrapped in the flowing cape of Prince Charming and lifted into the air by the singing of birds and butterflies. I even like the glittery wicked witch. Like many children before and after me, I was imbued with the visual language of Disney and was therefore able to read the works of Robert Brink from memory.
       Scandal was the first Brinker work that spoke to me; she “taught” me that two mouths are better than one. In Dirty Play, penises appear everywhere, demanding our attention. Pinocchio’s little ankle is not just part of an “abstract” composition; Here’s Snow White taking part in an all-out orgy under a mushroom skirt. Donald Duck’s tail is firmly in the air as Mickey Mouse points exactly where he wants you to lick him.
       The artistic techniques Brink uses are as emotional as his content. Its thick black lines are made up of repeating graphite strokes that coalesce into solid, shiny, even lines, then layered with an additional layer of decoupage and reflective mylar. To say his work is labor intensive would be an understatement. Once the lines are carefully constructed, Brinke trims them to reveal “sporty” lines in cream and silver on separate layers, which helps bring the structure of the cut to life. The basic elements of these visual explosions, which often include tussocks of grass, blooming flowers and assorted toadstools, keep all the action in a Disney-like setting – a place where you can safely immerse yourself in the wildest orgasmic fun, where you can always come back for more. It may seem like a lot, but somehow, in the spirit of Robert Brinker, it hits the right note.
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