5.
17th of February, Sunday

I was interested in learning about the reaction of people to portraits after their presentation in the National Portrait Gallery. And before that, I want to mention that the former president and the first lady were standing in front of the paintings with broad smiles, as can be seen from the photographs taken, which makes them very different from their portraits. They were “here and now”, thanked the artists and communicated with people. I liked the comment by Michelle Obama, who said that young people, people of colour, who will come to the gallery and see these portraits will be affected by the fact that the images of people like themselves are in such a prestigious institution.

Many people wanted to get acquainted with the pictures lively. For some, this was proof that they were in the middle of the action. Well, of course! Look, I'm so cool, stand near the modern portrait of the US President! And with people around I can talk about how Barack Obama, performed in this style, looks like Beyonce, or how Michelle Obama’s painted face does not look like her real face.

The fact that people quickly bought the Obama merchandise in the early days suggested to me that it is essential for people to have a piece of some famous, well-known “thing” or a copy of it that has the aura of the original and will remind them that they saw it live and were thinking about something at that moment.