Artwork Description

In this haunting and intense piece, Agustin Noguera continues his exploration of societal contradictions surrounding street children. The artwork centres on a striking image of a human skull with a surreal twist: its eye sockets are shaped like hearts, with wisps of smoke emanating from them. This composition serves as a metaphor for the complex and often paradoxical relationship between society and its most vulnerable members.

The skull, a symbol of death, is given new meaning through its heart-shaped eye sockets, representing love and compassion. This juxtaposition confronts the viewer with a visual paradox - a reflection of society’s conflicting attitudes towards children. The smoke rising from the heart-shaped cavities adds an element of ambiguity and unease, perhaps symbolising the unclear future faced by street children or how society’s supposed love for children often evaporates into empty words.

Noguera’s use of pencil brings a raw, emotional quality to the piece. The addition of “big juicy lips” to the skull introduces an element of surrealism, further emphasising the disconnect between society’s words and actions. These lips could represent the hollow promises made to children, or perhaps the silenced voices of the children themselves.

Despite its spooky and surrealistic elements, the artwork also carries a glimmer of hope. The heart-shaped eye sockets suggest that genuine love and compassion exist, even if obscured by societal failures. The juicy lips might hint at the potential for these children to speak, to be heard, if only given the chance.

Artist’s Reflection

This piece is born from Noguera’s ongoing reflection on a pivotal childhood experience - witnessing a child his own age jailed for selling candy on the streets. Through this artwork, he poses challenging questions to society: “Everyone says they love kids, but why are they there so alone, selling candies and being in jail? Why?”

The surrealistic approach allows Noguera to represent the cognitive dissonance he observes in society’s treatment of street children. The skull with heart-shaped eye sockets embodies this contradiction - a society that claims to cherish its young while failing to protect its most vulnerable.

By amplifying the imagery of the human skull seen in his previous works, Noguera intensifies his critique of societal inaction. The piece serves as a powerful reminder of the gap between societal ideals and realities, challenging viewers to confront their own role in perpetuating or challenging these contradictions.

Artist’s Commitment

Agustin Noguera has pledged to donate all proceeds from the sale of this artwork to organisations supporting street children in Mexico. Through this commitment, the artist transforms his work from a tool of awareness into a direct instrument of change, bridging the gap between artistic expression and social action.