Artworks of Iconography: Understanding the Seven Deadly Sins series by James Perez.

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS SERIES

by
JAMES PEREZ

Gluttony (oil on 5’x7’ canvas) depicts a seven-armed Kali-Ma Virgin Mary eating a plate of babies with a knife and fork. This work reminds us that religion gobbles us up when we are children, and that humans are the meal ticket of the church.

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Lust (oil on 5'x7' canvas) shows an uglier view of the church, depicting reigning Pope Benedict seated at his throne and coddling an Altar Boy in his lap.  This forces the patron to confront the truth about the atrocities of clergy abuse, and the sometimes ugly nature of the sin of Lust.

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Envy (oil on 5'x7' canvas) depicts child beauty queen Jon Benet Ramsey, exposed and stalked by a horde of ghouls (look for famous faces) who drool green glitter over the child's body as they stare at her.  The child pageant industry has long attracted a following of child predators, envious of youth and beauty.

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Greed (oil on 5'x5' canvas) shows an almost comical depiction of Christian Televangelist Tammy Faye Baker having a famous melt down.  Her bus-driver fingernails clutch a handful of jewels and her face is framed by $100 bills.

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Pride (oil on 5'x7' canvas) shows a portrait of our proud President martyred in a crucifixion.  Even in the clutches of his darkest enemies, he appears blindly proud before his adversaries.

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Wrath (oil 5'x7' canvas) is a depiction of the Prophet Mohammed with the face of 911 Terrorist Mohammad Atta.  The spirit of the Koran gushes from its binding and the Afghan hills glitter with gold.

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Sloth (oil on 5'x7' canvas) depicts porn star Jenna Jameson laying on her back with her legs over her head in a bed of cocaine.  This work reminds us that the now common practices of sex workers are best examples of what it means to be slothful.


Click HERE to watch a video clip of the Houston Channel 2 news segment regarding the "Pride" painting (features a brief interview with the artist himself).