Rock Paper Scissor is an exhibition including works, mostly all on paper, from three separate and unique projects spanning a period of four years: Is Paris Burning (2020), Unusual Politics (2017), and Aspirational Recycling (2021).
Is Paris Burning is comprised of a group of paper collages made from harvested paper found in Paris, close to the recently burned Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. The title is a reference to the 1965 book title by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre telling the story of the Liberation of Paris during the Second World War. The book examines the military and political actions surrounding the events of late August 1944 around Paris and how these events unfolded. The title is taken from the question reportedly asked by Adolf Hitler following his order to destroy the city rather than let it be re-captured by the Allies. The story was adapted into a feature film by the same name in 1966.
Unusual Politics (2017-2020) is inspired by the contrasting leaderships of American Presidents Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump, and how they influenced the artist. Obama represented the ideals of what hope, hard work, and integrity could bring for himself and for the nation. His administration contributed to eight years of prosperity that created a euphoria lending to complacency. According to Greiner, he did not think too much about how well our democracy was functioning.
The artist admits that never in his wildest dreams (or nightmares), did he ever envision the United States would elect a President such as Donald J. Trump. According to Greiner, “[Trump] is a man who exhibits no shame, no curiosity, no compassion, no humility, no intelligence, and no moral compass. It is hard to reconcile such a man as our leader, our President. We have been pitied in a battle between and amongst ourselves; black vs. white, wall vs. no-wall, red vs. blue, liberal vs. conservative, Nationalist vs. globalist, pro-gun vs. anti-gun, Climate change deniers vs. environmentalist , pro-abortion vs. anti-abortion. Pick your topic, pick your battle, there are many to choose from.”
Each day Greiner viewed these assaults on democratic norms, facts, decency, kindness, and fairness, “There are those fighting literal battles. A lack of health insurance can be a death penalty. A dreamer can be deported for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A worshiper or student needs to not only concentrate on a task but also wonder, might I get shot. Some take to social media as an outlet to share and vent. Twitter and Facebook offer a venue for being heard. I have certainly participated in that exercise.”