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Friday, October 3, 2008

Cartoon characters brutally killed in new Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck art exhibition

Cartoon characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck brutally killed in new art exhibition
Artist James Cauty created the controversial exhibition with his 15-year-old son Harry Photo: jCauty&SON copyright out of control 2008, courtesy of THE AQUARIUM L-13 all responsibility denied, www.theaquariumonline.co.uk

The gruesome pictures include children's cartoon favourite Daffy Duck having his head blown off by a gun-wielding Bugs Bunny, as blood is sprayed everywhere.

Another violent picture shows famous cartoon cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry as never before - with Tom the cat chopping Jerry into small pieces in a pool of blood and guts.

A third brutal piece of artwork features long-suffering cartoon cat Sylvester with a mouth covered in blood, having finally taken a bite out of his bird nemesis Tweety Pie.

The controversial characters, all taken from the popular Looney Tunes series, are included in artwork described as 'unrelenting acts of blood and discomfort never previously witnessed on the Cartoon Network'.

The barbaric pictures by artist James Cauty are part of the 'Splatter' exhibition which will be shown at London's Aquarium Gallery.

Artist James, 51, said: "People have been saying since the 60's that cartoons should show the consequences of violence, or kids will get the wrong idea.

"Its very difficult to shock kids these days - you have cartoon characters being shot in the head and walking off cliffs, so we have decided to replace them with something more realistic.

"I'm a parent myself, and if I saw pictures like that I would think of something kids would really love, because it's no holds-barred violence.

"The idea actually came from my 15-year-old son, who suggested I do some artwork showing what cartoons are really like by showing their real consequences.

"I don't know why he suggested it, but he's done me a favour by giving me this idea six months ago."

The gallery say it is the first time they will have to impose a 'Parental Advisory Content' warning on one of their own exhibitions.

The Aquarium Gallery will show James's work from next Thursday, for a month.

The exhibition unveiling will also include an eight-minute film with short scenes of 'extreme cartoon violence'.

Gallery owner, Steve Lowe, said: "It's amazing work, and from the reactions we've had to it so far, children have loved it.

"I'm not sure if their parents have been too happy about their children loving it, but kids were very excited by it all, which is interesting because art is never normally aimed at children.

"It should be a very successful show, and will raise lots of questions about violence in the media and in our culture.

"We are constantly fed images of violence in this country, but we will have to see how people react when the show opens."

* The copyright in the original Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck characters is owned by Warner Brothers.

Original here

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