London-born artist Magnus Gjoen combines religion, fine art, animals and weapons to create illustrations that battle between polemic and the right of art of juxtaposed multiple influences to create new ways of expression and perceptions
By fusing together completely different objects and inspirations, Gjoen transforms audiences’ perceptions of reality and society. These stunning prints speak bluntly to viewers about war, death, nature and religion—these images aren’t afraid to shake peoples’ believes; this is evident when God appears crucified while holding guns, when a grenade takes the shape of a fragile vase, or a gun is beautifully decorated with a painting.
Magnus Gjoen finds inspiration in pop culture and history to discover new relationships between opposing concepts in culture. He works as a designer and graphic designer for Vivienne Westwood.
What's Driving This Trend
- Polemic Illustrations
- Using polemical juxtapositions, there is an opportunity to disrupt traditional artistic expression by challenging beliefs and perceptions.
- Transformed Realities
- By fusing unrelated objects, there is potential to create new ways of experiencing and understanding the world.
- Symbolic Weaponry
- By incorporating weapons into art, there is an opportunity to provoke thought and discussion about societal issues related to war and violence.
Who This Affects Most
- Fine Art
- This trend in polemic illustrations presents an opportunity for artists and galleries to offer unique and thought-provoking artwork to collectors and audiences.
- Graphic Design
- By exploring new relationships between opposing concepts, there is potential for graphic designers to push boundaries and create innovative and impactful designs.
- Fashion
- Incorporating polemic illustrations into fashion design can disrupt traditional notions of beauty and challenge societal norms.
