Apocalyptic Hedonism: Kris Kuksi

”When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls – the world”.   This quote by Lord Byron begins the web biography of Kris Kuksi, sculptor, genius, and general madman. His sculptural pieces, self-described as post-industrial rococo, are as beautiful as they are unsettling. While death and destruction make up much of the subject matter in Kuksi's pieces, the soft touch of a Rococo aesthetic is as welcomed as it is well-placed.The assemblages of smaller, infinitely detailed figurines and mechanical wonders add a claustrophobic intensity to the subject matter surrounding the end of the world. Each piece teeters on the edge between subtle beauty and hopeless destruction, war and unfettered hedonism, tyranny, life, and death. I've tried to include some close-ups in order to fully realize the intricacy of these works, which really can only be fully enjoyed in person, but you can see what I mean:

Close up: 

Check out more work and different angles and close ups of these works at

http://www.kuksi.com/