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As the chattering classes discuss Jeff Koon's Popeye exhibition - Swide has found an artist to rival the old pop guard. Provocative, funny, confusing: Eugenio Merino’s art destroys pop icons, and even Daniel Hirst gets a look in.

Eugenio Merino is the artist to watch at the upcoming 2010 Shangai Biennale (1st September – 30th November 2010).

Born in 1975 in Madrid, Spain, the Merino graduated in Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid, bursting the bubble on pop since 2005. We take a peek at the pop artist below.

Merino early works twist traditional cartoon icons that reflect on capitalist society, sexuality and the relationship between the U.S.A and the so called third world.

In “African Bart” (2005), Bart Simpson's character is transformed in a black African child, his comical face overshadowed by a sadness placed in front of the Africa continent.

Africa returns in “Always” (2007) featured below, representing a black skinny child drinking Diet Coke, the opposite of “Fat rat” (2007) above, that highlights a disturbing junk food eater.

The cowboy from Pixar’s Movie “Toy Story” takes on a more sinister appearance with a rope around his neck. Hanging from a tree, the piece is entitled “The American Friend” (2005).

Eugenio Merino’s works are cartoons but not ones for an under-age audience: PowerPuff's usual viewers would get a shock if they spotted “Supertanga” (2005), a half naked version of the insipid manga heroes.

There’s a certain satisfaction in being provocative: “The Truth hurts” (2005) shows Pinocchio with closed eyes for what he really is: a simple piece of wood and the art world's version of screaming “Santa Claus doesn’t exist” to a 5 year old child.

Al Queda terrorists are not the only political icons targeted: George W. Bush (featured below) prior to Obama’s election, is transformed into a punch bag (“Punching Bush”, 2008).

Fidel Castro is portrayed as a Zombie in “Viva Fidel Zombie”, 2008.

The Dalai Lama is featured with a gun in “Acorralado”, 2008.

"4 the love of go(l)d” (2009), Merino's most recent work, a silicon statue represents Damien Hirst shooting himself.

"I thought that, given that he thinks so much about money, his next work could be that he shot himself thus ensuring the value of his work would increase dramatically," Merino has said.

In the meantime, Merino’s work has increased too: “4 the love of go(l)d” was sold for $41,000 - a true artistic contradiction.

For more on the artist see www.eugeniomerino.com

Giuliano Federico

Source & Photo Credits: www.eugeniomerino.com

TAGS: eugenio merino pop damien hirst shanghai biennale dalai lama terroists bart simpson 4 the love of gold art online magazine fashion magazine pop art jeff koons popeye