A piñata traditionally accompanies a birthday or other happy event, but Abel Saucedo’s piñatas are created with a far more macabre intent.
Abel Saucedo’s piñatas are decapitated bloody heads—not unicorns, hearts or cartoon characters we’re used to seeing. They’re meant to comment on the ongoing violence at the U.S.-Mexico border over drugs. The series is titled “Ciudad Juarez es the .1,” and currently appears at El Paso’s Public Library in Texas.
As you might imagine, Abel Saucedo hasn’t exactly received an overwhelmingly positive reception to his piñatas. But, as he tells CNN, he’s proud of his sculptures nevertheless:“I have had all kinds of responses. People like them, they think it’s a great idea. People think its offensive, sad, it’s humorous, but people say it’s the truth. In art I’ve learned that everything everyone says, it’s an opinion,” said Saucedo.
“As a person living here in the community, as an artist, this is my opportunity to speak, and it’s tragic. My family and friends have had to move, it’s tragic. I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to represent those feelings,” said Saucedo.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Macabre Art
- Macabre sculptures and art as a response to contemporary issues such as crime, violence, and social injustice.
- Controversial Art
- Art that is considered provocative or offensive that challenges traditional norms and beliefs.
- Art Activism
- The use of art to fight social and political injustices and to raise social and political awareness.
Where This Applies
- Art
- Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in exploring new forms of provocative and socially conscious art that comment on contemporary issues.
- Activism
- Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in exploring how art can be used as an activist tool to raise awareness, to challenge traditionally held beliefs and to impact public opinion.
- Retail
- Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in exploring how macabre art can be used in retail settings to offer a unique, provocative shopping experiences for customers.
