Adam Bock
Northern Illinois University
My Nipple Called Me a Sell Out
Oil on canvas
36" x 48"
My work deals with the over-arching themes of youth culture and memory. My imagery is largely autobiographical, often humorous and occasionally violent.
My Nipple Called Me a Sell Out deals with my own social evolution. During my formative years, I identified myself as a punk, and I truly believed I would never sell out. However, 10 years later I find myself wearing Polos, sweaters and fancy shoes on a regular basis. I have become the object of my rebellion. Yet, deep down I still identify myself with punk ideals and thought processes. Therefore, some essence of me must still be punk; this essence is personified by my punk rock nipple. My brazen nipple, determined to prove that it was still punk, bullied me into actually piercing it with the iconic punk symbol: the safety pin.