MR BRAINWASH (FRENCH, b.1966)
Charlie Chaplin
singed 'Mr Brainwash' (left-centre margin); further signed, inscribed and dated '2018 life is beautiful Mr Brainwash' (on backboard)
oil, acrylic, spray paint and mixed media with neon lightbulb on canvas laid onto board
182 x 122 cm. (71 5/8 x 48 in.)

Provenance
With Maddox Gallery, London, where acquired by
Private Collection, where acquired by the present owners

Mr Brainwash has used many well-known motifs in his work. Figures such as Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein have become popular indicators of his style, capturing playfulness and positivity. In particular, Charlie Chaplin’s most famed character ‘The Tramp’ has come to dominate many examples of Mr Brainwash’s work. The character of The Tramp is used to connect the artist to his audiences. The iconic pop culture figure brings nostalgia and timelessness to the forefront as well as connecting the past and present, as displayed in this example. Mr Brainwash’s use of iconic figures, such as Chaplin’s The Tramp, serve as a visual language in communicating ideas, emotion and critiques in an accessible and approachable way.