This genius artist created the most provocative public awareness project you have ever seen

BY: CONNOR BRIAN

The image of an obese eight-year-old boy nailed to the back of Ronald McDonald is a provocative one, and is part of a series of photos that has managed to spark wide debate on sex tourism, obesity, war and other issues that plague children throughout the globe. In each photo the children are crucified on the shoulders of those who inflict harm on them, with each perpetrator turning their backs to their victims, symbolizing the common indifference we have when it comes to such pressing evils of the world.

Since posting it the artist has received public backlash, and claims that even Facebook has attempted to “halt his likes at 18,000,” later having his account temporarily banned because it “infringes their conditions of use.” The images were labeled as ”harmful content,” though later reinstated due to overwhelming support from his open-minded fan base. But censorship is nothing new for artist Erik Ravelo, who was also the man behind the United Colors of Benetton’s Unhate campaign, which features photos of the world’s most powerful leaders full on getting hot and steamy. Yet the people who get upset by such photos, are often the ones who prefer to remain idle on such issues. No change was ever sparked by creating politically and culturally neutral artwork.

These images may be shocking perhaps, but are they really more shocking than the daily activities that torment our global community of children? The project does exactly what it intends to do – it invokes thought. Sometimes artwork invites your jaw to drop for a reason.

“Los Intocables” translates to “The Untouchables” and it is a project that attempts to comment on the loss of innocence that often goes on behind government and religious walls. It overtly states that a culture of violence is an inherent abuse to our minors. All the children have their faces blurred to symbolize and preserve their right to live an untainted childhood.

“The right to childhood should be protected,” Ravelo writes on his website. He views youthful innocence to be something that should be, without exception, “untouchable.”