# Social Statement Surrealism The Alex Gross 'Product Placement' Series Scolds Consumers By Sophia Pelka | Published 2012-03-01 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alex-gross-product-placement1 References: [english.mashkulture.net](http://english.mashkulture.net/2012/02/28/alex-gross-product-placement-exhibit/) & [alexgross](http://alexgross.com/index.html) The Alex Gross 'Product Placement' collection puts a surreal lens to the cultural atmosphere of consumerist America. Gross' paintings serve to demonize the [effects of such branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coachtopia-1) as [Fendi](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pixelated), [Dior](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/azzedine-alaa-foundation), RVCA and Volcom. He puts strong social statements about consumerism in conjunction with love and morality. The theme of the paintings and mixed media works sparks viewers' critical thought and encourages skepticism of social standards. The LA-based artist created 19 new oil works for the Product Placement collection, incorporating typographic elements. The script varies from Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and English. The use of universal languages pushes the topic of globalization into the mix of social statements. The surrealist style applied to such mundane daily objects, such as smartphones and laundry detergent, sparks thought among viewers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Surrealist Social Commentary:** The Alex Gross 'Product Placement' collection merges surrealism with social critique, presenting an opportunity for artists to use their work to challenge consumerism and societal norms. - **Typography in Art:** The incorporation of multiple languages in the 'Product Placement' collection highlights the power of typography as a tool for cultural exchange and global connectivity, opening up opportunities for artists and designers to explore new ways of communication. - **Mundane Object Transformation:** The use of surrealism to transform everyday objects in the 'Product Placement' collection suggests that there is potential for disruptive innovation in product design, encouraging companies to reimagine traditional consumer goods and create unique and thought-provoking experiences for customers. ### Where This Applies - **Art and Design:** The 'Product Placement' collection by Alex Gross showcases the potential for disruptive creativity in the art and design industry, prompting artists and designers to challenge societal norms and provide social commentary through their work. - **Advertising and Marketing:** The 'Product Placement' collection serves as a reminder to the advertising and marketing industry that consumers are becoming more critical of branding and are seeking deeper meaning from companies, presenting an opportunity for brands to create campaigns that resonate with societal values and encourage conscious consumption. - **Consumer Goods:** The transformative approach to everyday objects in the 'Product Placement' collection suggests that there is room for disruptive innovation within the consumer goods industry, encouraging companies to rethink traditional product designs and incorporate elements of surrealism to create unique and engaging products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Surrealist Pop-Up Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surrealist-popup.md) - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [Artsy Surrealist Tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gohar-world.md) - [Concept-Driven Retail Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miya-ando-x-saint-laurent.md) - [Surrealist Shopping Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreams-is.md) - [Digital Graffiti NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/graffiti-wall-collection.md) - [Street Artist Digitalized Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shepard-fairey-1.md) - [Crystal-Adorned Crushed Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sam-keller.md) - [Surreal Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-deitch-art-gallery.md)