Arguably the most recognizable of all of Walter Van Beirendonck's subversive cartoon characters is a bobble headed blue creature with a shit eating grin, affectionately known as Puk Puk.
Puk Puk is described as "a dear little creature with big teeth, come(s) down from the planet Dork to support Walter, the Cybergod.". In Polish, the words "puk puk" replace the english "knock-knock", habitually followed by a pithy pun. Thus, Puk Puk is the opening line, a trickster character waiting to draw you in to the wild world of W<.
- First sketch of Puk Puk from @pukpuk.archive on Instagram
The term "Puk Puk" is also in reference to the Crocodile men in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea, "Puk Puk" translating literally to crocodile in Pidgin. Believing to be descendants of a cross-species love child resulting from a Persephonic fable; a young girl who was swept away deep into the river by a crock and had it's babies, the Crocodile men mutilate their skin to resemble that of a crocodiles. The process is considered a rite of passage for the young boys in the tribe.
- Photo by Mark Steadman from Wild Frontiers
Christened with welts and intricate weaving's of flesh, it is easy to see the danger that lies within the connective thread of Crocodile men and Van Beirendonck's Puk Puk. Though Puk Puk may seem jovial with his mischievous grin and lack of pants, he has consistently been a way for the designer to bring taboo subjects such as HIV and sexuality to the forefront of his designs.
- Walter Van Beirendonck on Instagram
Throughout the years, new characters entered the scene, such as Heidi (Hi-D) and Bambi. Innocent, doe eyed creatures that evoke the familiar gut reaction to protect. A maternal urge to prolong the beautiful naivete of youth so easily stolen. With Van Beirendoncks love of children's toys and S&M subcultures, it is easy to see these characters and his designs as excessive or unsettling, but this is exactly as it is mean to be. The brutal process of etching into ones own skin and allowing the blood to pour out is not for the faint of heart, but for the Puk Puk men, it is the process that will bring them from boys to men. Perhaps Beirendonck's Puk Puk is a Peter Pan like character, embodying the dangers of being eternally attached to youth, provoking us to question why we are so unwilling to go through the trials and tribulations to let it go and reach the other side. When does the value of youth begin to fade, if ever? Surely the idealist notion of innocence cannot mar the future forever. Puk Puk may never grow up, but will we?
W< Puk Puk "Squeeze My belly" long sleeve, 1997
available online
<3 Check out our collection of W< pieces that feature Puk Puk and friends in the shop! <3
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