Greg Colson’s Pie Chart constructions parody the endless stream of analysis, typically seen in the sleek, nonmaterial setting of computer screens or corporate reports. Colson plays up the material and visual elements, infusing his pie charts with a kind of flatfooted, unrefined, physical presence. The work ‘Dutch Consumption in Two-Person Households’ reflects upon the spending habits of the Dutch. The work is a reflection on societal norms. By placing a symbolic item in each of the fragments, the artist ascribes a certain lifestyle to the subject, all while leaving enough room for the spectator to create their own imaginary two-person Dutch household.
In series of constructed “pie chart” paintings (based on socio-cultural surveys), Colson mocks the deluge of analysis that is so much a part of our daily existence by playing up the material and iconographic elements to such a degree that any actual understanding is subverted.