‘Bad Penis’ is an ironic caricature with a psychedelic vibe. In the middle of the piece, a penis with edgy little wings and a grumpy face stands on a stool. Behind the bad-tempered penis, there's a pink ring with dots and a dark hole surrounded by a wreath of sperm cells, along with small keyholes each containing a tiny eye. The background features a bustling half-tone pattern commonly used in newspaper and magazine printing.
The print uses stark colour contrasts: blue, pink, yellow and turquoise. This makes the work cheerful, provocative and absurd. The halo and the buffoon character hoisted onto a stool lend the image a ceremonial air, as if it were a well-known cultural icon. The silhouette also bears a resemblance to a totem pole out of an old comic strip.
The print was created around the height of the ‘MeToo’ initiative: a cultural wave of emancipation and participation that continues to raise awareness and expose abuse to this day. The visual elements are designed to evoke specific associations. The stool, the grumpy expression, the figure’s laughable appearance, the droplets of sperm flying everywhere, the absurd silhouette of a crucified martyr, the absence of testicles and the psychotic halftone pattern are all references to the scandals and their exposure.
The print is part of the 'Iconsseries, which reflects on western cultural developments.
Features and specifications
Title: Bad penis
Year: 2020
Software: Illustrator
Process: Fine art print
Material: Watercolor paper
Dimensions: 50×50 cm