MADE YOU LOOK
In November 2013, Jeff Koons broke the record for the highest-selling work by a living artist when his Balloon Dog (Orange) went for US$58.4 million at auction. Last year he did it again with Rabbit at $91.1 million. His sculptures have been notorious ‘tycoon trophies’ since the ‘90s, and his balloon dogs are studded throughout personal and public collections around the world.
But the last ‘Koons’ you saw probably wasn’t one.
If the shiny dog was squatting down to leave a little (balloon) parcel behind it, you were looking at POPek, baby of Polish-born London-based artist Sebastian Burdon—AKA, Whatshisname. Burdon’s creations aim to poke fun at everything from Koons to the gallery bubble to culture in general, to disconcert and delight the viewer. He calls it ‘joyful pop art’.
Burdon renders POPek in several poses, each released in limited editions of varying sizes, materials and colours. His growing family of Balloon Dogs, which he’s christened POPIKI, now includes PEEPek (complete with polyresin puddle) and HUMPek (two dogs, well, humping). And he’s not just after the art world: last year’s ‘Brexit Balloon Dogs’ got busy on a plinth asking ‘Who humps whom?’
Collectors can buy Burdon’s work as both prints and fibreglass sculptures, and for a lot less than US$58.4 million.
CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS
A heartfelt thank you to all the photographers, artists, illustrators, and writers who trusted us, dived in, and brought us delight, grace, excitement, courage, wilderness, and wonder over the last five years. Their work not only reflects the bonds we share with our animal companions, it also celebrates their spirit.
None of this would be possible without our four-legged counterparts who sprinkle magic dust time and time again, and our readers, who embraced this kooky idea, rallied around us, and made this world theirs too. With friends like these, who needs nine lives?
February 5, 2019
LETTERING AT PLAY
Illustrator Cielle Graham forms the alphabet through the twists and turns of dogs chasing a ball.
March 28, 2020
GLAMOUR DOGS
March 11, 2020
SILENCE, PLEASE
Martin Usborne explores the frailty of the human condition in The Silence of Dogs in Cars, now updated and published by Hoxton Mini Press.
February 28, 2020
TOUGH LOVE
Wild One’s toy kit satisfies the chewers, tuggers and runners with playthings for every recreational whim.
February 19, 2020
STREET LIFE
Animal activist Robert Altermoser shows the sweeter side of displaced dogs in Everydaystray.
February 11, 2020
SPOT THE DOG
Illustrator AguWu cleverly doodles her Dachshund into brand logos, textiles, prints and more.
December 22, 2019
SNOOZE FEST
Spoony, a narcoleptic art lover, stars in Vacancy Projects’ illustrated zine.
December 17, 2019
