Hernan Bas
In this painting, Hernan Bas addresses how slights, teases, or insults can negatively affect an individual’s psyche. Based on George Bellow’s boxing scenes, Bas’ work shows two young men participating in a pillow fight in the middle of a boxing ring, thus undermining this traditionally masculine space and bearing an ostensibly intimate moment to the public. While a pillow fight is, in theory, a fun event where harm is minimal and camaraderie embraced, there is no laughter in the world that Bas paints. Instead, the mock-pugilists have hammered each other so violently that the pillow possessed by the boy in blue trunks has ripped--allowing feathers to flock everywhere. Both fighters, and the spectators, all seem ready for the flagellation to end, but the announcer’s presence reminds the viewer that round eight must begin as planned.