Jon Burgerman's latest series 'Head Shots' involves the artist altering, and dramatizing, his surroundings.
Burgerman creates violent and graphic live-art scenes by utilizing existing advertisements found in New York City's subways. Burgerman appears to be questioning, if not criticizing, the types of messages we are inundated with on a daily basis. Of course, he executes this criticism with a dark humor and dry wit that we've come to expect from the artist.
The series becomes even more poignant when we consider the amount of gun violence and shooting tragedies that occur in the US alone. With each case, Burgerman found himself more paranoid and hyper-aware of his surroundings. He began to notice that there are some "very obvious threats right under our noses, in plain view, for everyone to see." He asks, quite rightly, "How have we missed these? Who are these people aiming at?"
Graphic Movie Dramatizations
Jon Burgerman's 'Head Shots' Questions Messages in Media
Trend Themes
1. Graphic Movie Dramatizations - Opportunity for artists to use existing advertisements to question and criticize the types of messages found in media.
2. Violent and Graphic Live-art Scenes - Opportunity to create provocative live-art scenes that provoke thought and discussion.
3. Hyper-awareness of Surroundings - Opportunity to explore themes of paranoia and observation in art and media.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Opportunity for advertisers to reflect on the messages they are conveying and potentially make changes to address social concerns.
2. Art - Opportunity for artists to challenge societal norms and provoke conversations through their work.
3. Media - Opportunity for media outlets to consider the impact and responsibility of the messages they broadcast.