Mario Bros B4 Hoes (2023)

Oil on canvas - 100x100cm

Visiting friends' houses to play games as a kid, gaming was more than a hobby, it was a communal ritual that bound us together in shared digital conquests. At times, even the Nintendo Game Boy, with its tiny monochrome screen, became a cooperative experience: the device handed around for your turn.

As we got older, friends started exploring new interests — relationships, different hobbies — and the once-sacred gaming sessions on Friday nights started to thin out. Phrases like 'bros before hoes' and 'games before dames' became half-joking, half-desperate attempts to rally the group for another virtual adventure.

This piece reflects on the community aspect of those early gaming days — a shared physical experience — a stark contrast to today's more isolated online play. While the internet has expanded our horizons, it's also diluted the in-person camaraderie that made gaming so special.

Moreover, it also toys with the traditional narrative tropes of classic games like Super Mario, where the hero rescues the princess. It poses a pointed what-if: what if the princess could save herself? It’s a nod to the outdated damsel-in-distress formula but also doubles down on the idea that heroes should ignore the opposite sex so they have time for things like gaming.

Extra Information: 

Super Mario Land was released on the Game Boy in 1989 and sold over 18 million copies. Unlike its console counterparts, it was not developed by Mario's creator Shigeru Miyamoto but still succeeded in capturing the essence of Mario's adventures in a portable format. This version introduced unique elements, like submarine and airplane levels, distinguishing it from other games in the series.