ART – Photos from ‘The Sum of All Evil’: Shock Value or Art?


A crucified Ronald McDonald surrounded by Nazi skeletons overseen by Hitler holding balloons… British duo Jake and Dinos Chapman’s controversial dioramas depict surreal and hellish scenes of torture and mutilation. ‘The Sum of all Evil’ is part of a series of models and reworked paintings entitled ‘Hell’, currently exhibiting in Hong Kong…

The scenes make up a highly detailed, meticulously crafted miniature landscape referencing historical events and touching on themes such as the holocaust, violence, and death…

Their controversial work fuses sensitive events, such as the discovery of mass WWII graves, with the branding and symbols of fast food chain, McDonald’s…

Jake told the AP that… “One of the ways in which we proof our work from being implicated in that process is to make the work as awful as we can, so it can’t be mistaken for anything positive – it’s as cynical and pessimistic and anti-human as possible…”

The mischievous Chapmans insist, however, that their work is also full of humour.

‘Hell’ links themes of violence with capitalism and criticises the underlying hypocrisy connected with globalisation…

Previously, the brothers have adapted authenticated watercolours painted by Hitler himself. They also came under fire for supposedly sending death threats to a journalist and claiming the youths who murdered Liverpool toddler James Bulger performed a ‘good social service’.

Their work can be seen at White Cube in Central until the end of August. Entry is free.

Address: 50 Connaught Road Central, Central.




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