Monkey Set - AP By Magnus Gjoen

Magnus Gjoen - former designer for Vivienne Westwood - knows a thing or two about style. Having recently turned his hand to the art of print making, Gjoen creates images that are full of startling beauty as well as a profundity of thought: his art explores the interaction between power and fragility, juxtaposing the two states for maximum conceptual effect. Gjoen's work blends a range of styles, incorporating a street and pop aesthetic into a fine art approach. 'Monkey Set' depicts a skull, an atomic bomb, and a pink uzi, each one printed with antiquated designs, from a classical Grecian frieze, to a detailed baroque painting. A small brown monkey perches on each item, its tiny paw clenched into a fist within a colourful, Mickey Mouse glove. With its mash-up of styles and disparate elements, Gjoens's print brilliantly highlights the stark contrast between natural beauty and human violence, and the gossamer line between life and death, with powerful visual impact.