HO, WHAT ARE THEY REALLY SAYING?

I first thought about this concept in 2004 when I just started the Sacred series of paintings, so I decided to wait a year to paint it knowing that it would fit well in my Profane series of 2005. Believe me it was hard to wait because you feel that your work will not be relavant a year later, sadly in this case it was and is relevant. The subject is simple and it comes from the use of the word "Ho" a slang word made popular in Hip/Hop or Rap lyrics, now also in Rock music as well. I found it odd that the word didn't really offend the girls who buy the music as it is a slang for the word "Whore". So I wanted to bring the word to its roots in my painting, thus was born, "HO, WHAT ARE THEY REALLY SAYING?" I decided to keep the girl in the painting vague as far as ethnicity... people have seen her as white, black or latina. I wanted her to look like a cartoon in ways, stereotyped with large breasts. Behind her are dollar signs and musical notes signifying the world in which she is objectified. There is an unopened condom, which I found in a gas station lot, glued to the surface of the painting with hot glue appearing as semen dripping down. I wanted to show the unsurity of a condom in reference to semen. So now you know a bit of the story of this painting, now you are obliged to think your own thoughts about it. Rocco Anthony Pesce