Everybody has an uncle like Michael Mararian. You know the one – he's the relative that gives you a Barely Legal subscription for your 16th birthday, wears Old Spice, and laughs just a little bit too hard at the Christmas bon-bon jokes. Unlike that creepy uncle though, Maraian has a killer taste in music: The Smiths, Misfits, Lou Reed, Black Sabbath, Dead Kennedys... So what is lost in childhood innocence – in his artworks – is gained in sweet beats.
Mararian's paintings contrast the naivety of kids who haven't been told right from wrong with some pretty heavy themes. They tote bloodied sabers, pop prescription pills, are possessed by viking spirits and wield matches and kerosene cans. They're the meanest hall monitors in primary school.
At the start of the above gallery, you'll probably be thinking, "Aww hell, ain't those lil' critters cute?" and will admire the '70s wallpaper backgrounds. By the end though, you may feel a little differently.
Stay clear of Uncle Mikey's special fruit punch.
More at
michaelmararian.com.