What to know about Joan Cornellà for his Hong Kong exhibition

A pioneer in absurdist comic strips on social media, Joan Cornellà Vázuez’s work are an exercise in contradiction. The Spanish artist uses a light-hearted and playful colour scheme which seem cheery at first, but behind it lurks dark and unnerving commentary. Chloe Wong looks at some things you should know about this thought-provoking artist, ahead of his exhibition at the Fringe Club in Hong Kong from July 11 to 27, 2025

He has a dark sense of humour

If it's not already obvious, Cornellà has a rather dark sense of humour. He uses black comedy to talk about morbid subjects like death, mental illnesses, and violence. Humour is both his way to cope with these experiences and allows him to make these traditionally taboo subjects more palatable for the general audience.

He mixes the silly with the serious 

Though most of his works are dark and satirical, attempting to use humour as a way to cope with human emotions like sadness, loneliness, and depression, other works provide an insight into his views on politics, society, and social issues. For example, Kujitolea pokes fun at the superficiality of social media stars but also points at the effects of wartime bombings on children and the environment. 

His illustrations were in the newspapers

Although Cornellà grew most of his following on social media, being the most accessible platform for easily-consumable comedy, he has collaborated with numerous publications, such as Ara, El Periódico, and even The New York Times! His unsettling yet humorous style easily catches the attention of readers, making the information absorption effective yet fun. 

He’s not afraid to speak out 

While some artists may choose to not speak out about their political views, Cornellà doesn't hold back. He produced a satirical piece showing US president Donald Trump doing a heart sign, with a swastika in the centre, to express his belief that the current regime situation is akin to one of Nazi Germany with implications of a dictatorship and foreboding violence. 

He has an upcoming exhibition in Hong Kong

Cornellà will be back in Hong Kong after a four-year break with a solo exhibition. He will be exhibiting new sculptures and more than 100 original works at Fringe Club from July 11 to 27, 2025. A range of official merchandise like his hard cover books, posters, and T-shirts will also be available. Make sure not to miss out on this chance to check out his absurdly dark but humorous works in person soon!

Also see: What to know about Picasso for the exhibition M+ Museum