The artist Paul McCarthy is famous for his provocative sculptures –– like that giant butt plug he dropped on Paris last year. Now he's trying his hand at a different medium, the skateboard. As decks go, they're not cheap. But at around $350 each, they're a steal for a piece by a renowned (and reviled) artist who's been in the Whitney Biennial three times, and who shows at the tony international gallery Hauser & Wirth. And it's for a good cause: McCarthy is working with The Skateroom, an organization that aims to bring education and leadership opportunities to underprivileged kids through the magic of skate culture. They're planning to use the proceeds to build a skate park and school in central Johannesburg, South Africa.
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It's a good pairing. Skate culture, with all its grunge and grunt, appeals to teenagers by giving mainstream culture the finger. And McCarthy, approaching 70, has always been critical of capitalism and authority. In his work, McCarthy takes symbols of Western culture and undermines them. For his skateboards, McCarthy took commercial products –– Miracle Whip, Heinz ketchup, Ken's head –– and dirtied them up. Or maybe he's just letting the the greed and corruption of consumer culture show.
Clik here to view.
