“I LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CONFLICT” by Albert Young Choi
Albert Young Choi’s “I LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CONFLICT” presents a powerful visual commentary on the cultural and social tensions of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Through a sophisticated montage of pop culture imagery, Choi explores the contradictions and conflicts within society, highlighting the divisions shaped by class, race, and identity. By twisting familiar symbols from popular media, he exposes the often overlooked tensions that underlie consumer culture and the widening socio-economic gaps of the time. His artwork challenges the viewer to reflect on how these conflicts, masked by the allure of mass culture, affect individual and collective identities.
The dissonance created by Choi’s montage technique serves as both a critique and an invitation to engage with the uncomfortable realities of social disparity. By confronting these conflicts head-on, the artwork opens a dialogue about the ideological struggles and marginalized voices that define the period. In doing so, Choi’s work suggests that conflict, though unsettling, is an essential part of social growth and understanding, encouraging viewers to question the structures that shape contemporary culture.
Artist: Albert Young Choi
Date: 1992
Medium: Montage on paper
Dimensions: 29.7 cm × 42 cm
