U.S.A./ENGLAND, A Square Peg in an Oval Office, or The Man Who Would be King, 2005, an...

MaloneBeach, James, aka James Beach (American, 1947-present); b. St Paul, MN U.S.A./ENGLAND, A Square Peg in an Oval Office, or The Man Who Would be King, 2005, an aluminium, crude oil and mixed media lozenge-shaped plaque by J. MaloneBeach for the British Art Medal Society, image of George W. Bush, phial of Saudi Arabian crude oil set into the back, legend around, impressed 12 mb, 75 x 72mm, 162.12g (Attwood 184; The Medal 47, p.103). Extremely fine and as made £80-£100 --- Edition of 37. The artist is famous for his sculptural and medallic work majoring on political ramifications. The inclusion of a phial of oil is a direct reference to how the artist thought that rather than blood, oil runs in President Bush’s veins. At the time of the plaque’s issue, the artist said that in thinking of an appropriate title for it, ‘my first idea was The Madness of King George. I thought that this would give the medal historical significance but I also feared that it could nourish Mr Bush’s delusions of grandeur. In conversation at the FIDEM congress at Seixal, Portugal, in 2004 a BAMS member indicated that he liked the idea for the medal but added a comment about a “square peg in an oval office”. This phrase, modified from “a square peg in a round hole”, truly exemplified my feelings for President Bush, and I was granted permission to use his inspired title”