Parris Jaru’s Worm and Dragon Breath from his Chronicles of Bad Germ series captures the frenetic energy of a world where absurdity reigns supreme. The stark black-and-white composition brims with exaggerated figures and cryptic speech bubbles, straddling the boundary between painting and comic strip. The looming dragon-like creature and fragmented human forms suggest a chaotic power play, an ecosystem where influence is exerted through consumption—both literal and metaphorical. Speech bubbles like "Drinking Blue Dragon" and "Not even Bad Germ" blur meaning, playing with irony and detachment.
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Parris Jaru’s Worm and Dragon Breath from his Chronicles of Bad Germ series captures the frenetic energy of a world where absurdity reigns supreme. The stark black-and-white composition brims with exaggerated figures and cryptic speech bubbles, straddling the boundary between painting and comic strip. The looming dragon-like creature and fragmented human forms suggest a chaotic power play, an ecosystem where influence is exerted through consumption—both literal and metaphorical. Speech bubbles like "Drinking Blue Dragon" and "Not even Bad Germ" blur meaning, playing with irony and detachment.
The interplay of worm-like figures and monstrous jaws speaks to the cyclical nature of status and survival, echoing the series' themes of artistic hierarchy and fleeting fame. Jaru’s aesthetic recalls the raw energy of underground comics and the socially charged satire of Peter Saul, while the heavy black lines channel the improvisational edge of Jean Dubuffet’s Art Brut.
But Jaru’s figures aren’t merely grotesque distortions; they are emblematic of a coded world where language and power shift unpredictably. Worm and Dragon Breath captures a moment of absurd negotiation—one that is both comedic and unsettling in its commentary on ego, dominance, and the hunger for recognition.
