Raymond Pettibon, a cult artist, initially gained recognition for his flyers, concert posters, and album covers for SST, the independent record label owned by his brother, Greg Ginn. He eventually distanced himself from the Californian hardcore punk scene to develop his "Trag die humaine," a body of work that has persistently challenged America's self-perception by deconstructing popular myths through a striking interplay of image and text. Pettibon, also known for his feature films and animations, serves as a keen observer of American pop culture. His inspirations include the comic styles of Milton Caniff and John Kirby, 1930s and 40s design, and the flower-power dreams of later decades, which he transforms into scenes of violence. His work features iconic superheroes and villains (like Batman, Superman, Jesus, Stalin, and Charles Manson) alongside recurring motifs (trains, penises, surfers, baseball players), creating a visual "remix." His black-and-white drawings, sometimes accented with red bullet wounds, alongside later color-intensive pieces, reveal a grotesque, cannibalistic world that uncovers hidden truths about our own. The collection features over 500 drawings, documentation of a 50-foot mural, an interview with the artist, and two essays.
