Prone to Bruise
Works in Progress ~ September 2024
Amid today’s figurative art revival, where identity, vulnerability, and social critique take center stage, David’s work stands out for its playful yet poignant take on masculinity, symbolized by his recurring motif: the banana. Blending comedy and tragedy, his paintings parody heroic tropes by casting the banana as the protagonist, familiar, absurd, and unexpectedly symbolic.
Positioned against the backdrop of societal expectations shaped by lingering toxic masculinity, these works question the cultural narratives that define strength, legacy, and meaning. Men in protective gear cradle these oversized bananas—monumental yet delicate forms that gesture toward the fragile construction of masculine identity. The result is a body of work that subverts the mythic scale of masculine greatness with quiet tenderness and irony.
By framing the banana as both icon and object of care, David aligns his practice with a broader movement in contemporary figurative painting that reimagines gendered archetypes and embraces vulnerability as a form of resistance. Often depicted as oversized and imposing, the banana becomes a stand-in for inflated masculinity—seemingly robust, yet surprisingly fragile and prone to bruising.
Installations
Prone to Bruise
Works in Progress ~ September 2024
Amid today’s figurative art revival, where identity, vulnerability, and social critique take center stage, David’s work stands out for its playful yet poignant take on masculinity, symbolized by his recurring motif: the banana. Blending comedy and tragedy, his paintings parody heroic tropes by casting the banana as the protagonist, familiar, absurd, and unexpectedly symbolic.
Positioned against the backdrop of societal expectations shaped by lingering toxic masculinity, these works question the cultural narratives that define strength, legacy, and meaning. Men in protective gear cradle these oversized bananas—monumental yet delicate forms that gesture toward the fragile construction of masculine identity. The result is a body of work that subverts the mythic scale of masculine greatness with quiet tenderness and irony.
By framing the banana as both icon and object of care, David aligns his practice with a broader movement in contemporary figurative painting that reimagines gendered archetypes and embraces vulnerability as a form of resistance. Often depicted as oversized and imposing, the banana becomes a stand-in for inflated masculinity—seemingly robust, yet surprisingly fragile and prone to bruising.