Satirical Anti-consumerism Art of Angel Boligan

“Satire is fascinating stuff. It’s deadly serious, and when politics begin to break down, there is a drift towards satire, because it’s the only thing that makes any sense.”

- Ben Nicholsan

During the French Revolution, satire was used in cartoons to convey messages to the people. The French satirists drew from the disquiet created by the huge disparity between the upper crust and those getting by on crusts.

Satire exposes the follies, weaknesses, and abuses of society, and holds them up to ridicule, hoping to change them, for satire seeks not just to expose, but to also transform.

Satire is constructive criticism that often creates humour as it promotes awareness and educates. While it can be funny, it also can give us ah-ha! moments when we can see an issue more clearly. 

The earliest example of satire in literature is from Egypt in the 2nd millennium BC. 

Comedians Bill Hicks and George Carlin are more recent examples of artists who were rather deft at cracking the whip of satirical wit. Their humour tickles both the funny bone and the brain. Often it stings a bit as well.

Back to the revolution, the use of satire in France fuelled the anger and disdain for the rich who, as a result, were no longer viewed as betters, but as the oppressors that they were. 

The times today are as rich as ever for satire to shine its light into the dark corridors where oppressors operate. It can also shine that light back at ourselves when we recognize we are the targets, and that change begins at home.

The best satire creates art that serves up a compelling call to learn in a way that is as bitter, or humorous, as it is effective. 

If this art form can expose the rich for the fakers that they are, and bring down Kings, lets see what it can do for exposing consumerism for the royal fake that it is.

All art in this post is by Cuban artist Angel Boligan. His work confronts consumerism, corruption and hypocrisy. Many pieces also reflect the fallout, including loneliness, vanity and despair.