Babies usually conjure images of innocence, cuteness and the like, but most would be hard-pressed to describe ‘Seven Sins under my Skin’ as such. The illustrations by the French graphic designer Dune replace innocence with corruption for a decidedly striking effect that indeed gets under one’s skin.
The series features babies depicted as soldiers, gangsters, addicts and simple creepers, among other things. In a deliberately gaudy move, Dune adorns each of these portraits with ovular, intricately patterned golden frames. Yet, these putrid portrayals of things people instinctively feel protective of are not merely for shock value.
Each of the babies depicted represents some cardinal sin. For instance, one infant is shown wearing a top-hat and a golden chain next to a piggy bank. He is intended to represent avarice, arrogance and greed.
Thugged-Out Baby Illustrations
‘Seven Sins under my Skin’ by Dune is Corrupted
Trend Themes
1. Corrupted Baby Illustrations - Illustrators and graphic designers can explore creating dark, edgy artwork by subverting the traditional innocence and cuteness of babies.
2. Sin-themed Artwork - There's potential for artists to create artwork that represents the seven cardinal sins or other topics that challenge people's expectations of what is appropriate for an art subject.
3. Challenging the Taboo - Taboo-breaking artwork like 'Seven Sins Under My Skin' may inspire other artists and designers to push the boundaries of societal and cultural norms with their work.
Industry Implications
1. Graphic Design - Graphic design agencies and freelancers can experiment with creating bold, unconventional designs for clients who want to stand out and make a statement with their branding.
2. Art Galleries - Art galleries could display artwork that pushes boundaries, challenges preconceptions and sparks conversations among viewers.
3. Advertising - Advertising agencies could leverage the shock value of subversive imagery to create campaigns that grab people's attention and make a lasting impression.