Beyond the Limits: “Boner” (Adults Only)

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a Beyond the Limits feature where I take piece of Clive Barker artwork and examine and talk about how it affects me.

Today I look at the painting “Boner” which pokes some fun at both sex and death. The image is an oil on canvas, “24×24”. It was exhibited at La Luz da Jesus, 1998 and also appeared in Visions of Heaven and Hell.

It’s pretty straight forward with a skeleton masturbating to a plentiful climax. I think this is one of Clive’s more humorous art pieces. I love the expression on the skull’s face as he blows his load into what appears to be a hole that was dug for it. That in itself is a mockery of death because semen is the essence of life. The whole painting seems to be making fun of the concept of death instead of being afraid of it. Clive gives the setting a calm feeling with the both the blue background and wavy green brush. These two additions I think capture the joke that Clive wants us to take away from it.

Barker also did another version of this painting with brighter colors and a more satisfying climax for Death, who’s smile is more glowing than in the previous one. It captures all the same themes like the previous painting, but creates something even more memorable. Think of it as a sequel that out does the original film.

I think the most important meaning you can take from “Boner” is that we should enjoy our time here on earth while we have it because in the end we’re nothing more than skeletons masturbating in a hole in the ground that awaits us.

Well, that’s if you’re going to be cremated it really won’t matter.

What does the image mean to you? We’d love to hear what you think in the comment section below.

I’d also like to thank Markus Williams for helping me look deeper into this piece than I originally thought.