Trope
posted:
El Stigmatismo: 4X4 feet, Mixed on Panel
I believe the term is "trope". It's like a meme, Richard Dawkins' term for a cultural gene. It's how we transmit culture from one brain to the next. Like a virus.
This painting was done for Mark Murphy for a Lucha Libre show at the Anno Domini Gallery in San Jose back in late 1999 or so. The small version was the "sketch". I based the image on El Santo or "The Saint" a famous luchador who never took of his mask. I thought it was funny how the Catholic culture of Mexico embraced the violent, vulgar antics of the luchadores as well as the matadores so I combined the two in a luchdor with stigmata. One needs blood to be entertained these days. And big tits!. I guess some things never change!
Some people really seem to be bugged by Mexican Wrestlers for some reason I've noticed. I think that it's funny. Happy Ash Wednesday!
