Benton's Doritos 2002

David Michael Hinnebusch made this piece, Benton's Doritos, using collage, and I'm guessing a few other media, on paper. The crumpled paper and the torn edges of the collage elements give it this off-the-cuff feeling, like a spontaneous eruption of thought. It reminds me a little of Dieter Roth, who used everyday materials in his assemblages. Look at how the black and white figure seems to emerge from the background through a spattering of ink, a kind of controlled messiness that hints at the artist's hand, while the Doritos packet adds a pop of vibrant, almost gaudy color. The contrast between the classical figure and the junk food is a little funny, like a meeting of high and low culture. The figure is marked with X's, like a damaged painting which is just so great. It's like Hinnebusch is saying, "Hey, art doesn't have to be precious, it can be found in the everyday, even in a bag of Doritos."