Loqi Museum Bag – Roy Lichtenstein – Whaam!

Is Whaam! a criticism of our desensitisation to violence? Of the Hollywood romanticisation of warfare? Or a celebration of fast-paced action and the Pop Art aesthetic? Roy Lichtenstein’s desensitised depiction of an explosion mimics our emotional detachment from the violence we see on the news so often. Whaam! epitomizes his style with its vivid colors and Ben-Day dots. A diptych depicts an intense aerial battle scene, as a critique of modern warfare and popular culture. The duality of violent subject matter and the dispassionate commercial style, leaves the artwork ultimately unclear. Weigh in with your own interpretation of the artwork on the recycled tote bag, created in collaboration with the TATE in London.