The Spanish artist Luis Quiles’ artwork has a way of disturbing the viewers because of its ability to depict the truths about politics, social media, sexism and many other such sensitive topics in a raw and blunt manner. He uses many references to history, current affairs and pop culture and creates illustrations that tend to reveal more the more you look at them. His art isn’t for everyone, especially not the faint-hearted or those who enjoy the comforts their world provides them, but for those who question what most people would take for granted. Below are some of his artworks that might set you thinking about all the hypocrisy and injustice in the world as well.
Titled The I-Phonekkake, this illustration is about how we are becoming enslaved to technology. The question Quiles asks through it is “if we are controlling technology or is technology controlling us”.
I Like, another illustration depicting the addiction to technology.
The illustration Censure Killed the Meaning of Art is about Quiles’ own struggle with censorship on DeviantART and deletion of some of his artwork because of reports from other users that the art is pornographic.
The illustration We’re All Living in Amerika was inspired by Rammstein’s song “Amerika” and is about the American cultural invasion and colonialism.
Against Homophobia was inspired by an iconic photograph taken of a Vietnamese Police Chief executing a Vietcong captain combined with the reference to the attack on children’s TV show Teletubbies accusing the characters of being gay.
In the illustration Teaching Religion, Quiles tries to express the hypocrisy and sexism in religion.
The illustration Football is about how the players are made to advertise for their sponsors or endorse products but at the same time they also take part in NGO activities “to clear their conscience”.
Free Expression is another take on censorship.
Jabba the Trump is a humorous illustration depicting Trump as Jabba the Hutt and the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo as Princess Leia.
Big Fish, “the capitalist food chain”, is about the capitalist society and how it exploits.
Kid Soldier is about how the children influenced by politicians and adults around them are made to take part in violence in the third world countries, whether they understand the reasons for it or not.
Capitalism is another take on the influence and effects of capitalist society.
Do Not Give Me a Holy Book, Give Me a Holy Sandwich is a critique of how religious establishments use poverty to spread their faith, while what the people actually need is “real food, schools, medicines and hope”.
Fast Food Initiation
Bomberman is about the negligence of the government in clearing landmines over which many children play unaware of the danger. It also refers to Bomberman, a maze-like game in which strategic placing of bombs is used to destroy enemies and obstacles.
Illustration about drug addiction – Insane
Cum on My Facebook
Star Wars Parody is a take on how much the scene in which Princess Leia was enslaved by Jabba the Hutt from The Return of the Jedi has influenced the fantasies of men and fans.
The picture of Argentine Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara had become a famous image to sell merchandise to hipsters and fashion lovers, many of whom do not really know who he is or the history involved, something Quiles tried to express it in his illustration Marketing Killed the Revolutionary Star.
Demoncrazy – a take on the fate of democracy.
You can check out more works of Luis Quiles on his DeviantART page.
