Faculty of Art

Sculpture/Installation

Matt Trinh

Evil Empire: The Division of Marios

Artist Multiples

“In the face of today’s ongoing economic crisis, the trophies on display highlight the growing divide between social classes and wealth. The decline of the middle class raises urgent concerns, especially for younger generations who feel increasingly insecure and struggle with escalating living costs. It seems that while the rich accumulate more wealth, the poor are left to struggle. Mario, the iconic character from Nintendo, has long held a central place in youth culture and gaming. However, this once-beloved company has recently decided to raise prices on its games and consoles, with competitors like Xbox and PlayStation quickly following suit. This price increase effectively excludes countless dedicated gamers from participating in the hobby they love—a blatant disregard from these elite corporations towards their loyal followers. Trophies are typically associated with achievement and success, but must one belong to a certain socioeconomic class to claim them? How can those struggling in lower-income brackets hope to succeed if they cannot even afford the means to play? In response, the Marios in this installation are initiating a boycott against these inflated prices, delivering a powerful message: enough is enough. This is our stand against economic exclusion, and we refuse to be sidelined in a game that should be for everyone.”