After that disastrous White House meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, I’ve seen some (great) portrait art of Zelenskyy floating around on Instagram. I respect all the artists. While I felt like joining, I can’t do it.
Because when it comes to portraits, on the one hand, there’s Zelenskyy:

And then there’s Trump:

Zelenskyy’s quote and Trump’s post perfectly convey what I can only describe as the two most diametrically opposed leadership styles I’ve seen in a while side by side (literally in the White House in February), where one leader is willing to offer up his power if it brought about peace and security – the other embraces the warmongering dictator that helped him claim power.
I frequently feel physically anxious about the state of security in Europe and the geopolitical fragility that the EU is being placed in by the United States turning its back on us so blatantly. I’m just itching to join in with an inspirational painting of Zelenskyy, just to pretend I’m alleviating some of that anxiety. It helps, I guess.

But then I remind myself that I’ve decided a long time ago that my no-go area in portrait painting will always be politicians, public servants or state employees, no matter how much I sympathize with them. I wanted to share the above 2019 quote by Zelenskyy to drive home this point, plainly and in place of a portrait. Because it summarizes what’s at stake: yes, social change needs inspirational leaders that invoke emotions. Emotions drive social change. But we also need to be able to check our leaders’ powers and anticipate the dangers of worship – consistently – if we want to protect the free world. 
To me, as a working artist, this begins with art. Portrait paintings can invoke enough emotions and intimacy to blur the lines between critical thinking and bias. At the extreme end of that spectrum lies unfettered worship that doesn’t allow for anything less than yes-men; those that defend their idolized leaders as they abuse their powers; those that make it a point to humiliate the president of an invaded country for not “respectfully” wearing a suit when he comes begging for help against an aggressive dictator.

As the leader of a country faced not just with war, but also struggling to fight corruption and plagued by oligarch power, Zelenskyy is a game changer for raising the bar – while also remaining a controversial figure. After all, he is a politician, and he won’t ever be perfect. That’s exactly why I want my art to remain free from that intimate connection to political figures that Zelenskyy warns about.
I’d go as far as arguing that portrait paintings are a form of art similar to statues. Do we really still want that? Personally, I never want to be within even the vicinity of that uncritical mindset, and I’m thankful for Zelenskyy’s thought-provoking quote keeping me in check in these trying times for critical mindsets and democracy.