David Bade's Subversive Works Stand Out at Scope Miami Beach Amid Political Art Trend

At the 2018 Scope Art Show in Miami Beach, the cramped booths and narrow aisles hindered viewing, while much of the art featured overt political posturing, particularly unflattering depictions of Donald Trump. A hyper-realistic portrait by street artist Shuglo exemplified this trend, capturing Trump puckering his lips to say "huge," with a neon sign spelling the word across his face. In contrast, Amsterdam gallery Annelien Kers presented a solo showcase of Curaçao-born artist David Bade, whose figurative paintings and assemblage sculptures offered a more nuanced critique. Bade's works depict nightmarish contortions of animals and humans in dystopian sexual fantasies, using shocking pinks and lime greens that are both seductive and unsettling. Trump also appears in Bade's sculpture, but subversively: the president's head melts into a gooey mop with jaundiced hair. The fair took place from December 4-9, 2018, at the Miami Beach Pavilion on 801 Ocean Drive. Critic Sharmistha Ray noted the fair's focus on political imagery over thoughtful critique, with Bade's presentation as a notable exception.