> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# NSFW: Sultan's Bro Should've Hired Jeff Koons
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/hire-jeff-koons/
- Published: 2010-11-05T16:02:51.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:03:06.000Z
- Description: The recent case of the dictator Sultan of Brunei brother’s sex sculptures [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-03/prince-jefri-of-bruneis-trial-features-nude-statues/full/] makes us wonder why the member of southeast Asia royalty didn’t just commission Jeff Koons, who knows a thin
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: Opinion, #image-position-hidden, Jeff Koons, Jr., #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-17 09:23 (2009-2011)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2010/11/sexsculpture-med.jpg)

J. Seward Johnson, Jr’s cheesy sex sculptures of the Sultan of Brunei & his girlfriend (via Daily Beast); right, Jeff Koons, “Dirty Jeff on Top” (1991) (via www.guardian.co.uk)

The [recent case of the younger brother of the dictator Sultan of Brunei’s sex sculptures](http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-03/prince-jefri-of-bruneis-trial-features-nude-statues/full/?ref=hyperallergic.com) makes us wonder why the southeast Asia monarch didn’t just commission Jeff Koons, who knows a thing or two, three, maybe ten, about sex sculptures. I can’t believe I’m going to write this but Koons looks almost tasteful in comparison.

Coincidentally, the Koons paintings (always worse than his sculptures) from the same *Made in Heaven* series we mention are currently on display at [Luxembourg & Dayan](http://www.luxembourgdayan.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) on the Upper East Side.

You may be interested to know that critic Roberta Smith has some harsh words for the painting show in today’s [*New York Times*](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/arts/design/05art.html?src=twrhp&ref=hyperallergic.com): “painting is too strong a word for these inkjet monstrosities on canvas from 1990-91 … they are thoroughly repellent as both art objects and images …” Yikes, honestly Smith, tell us how you really feel. Though I wonder what she would think about Johnson’s … *um* … more subtle works.

*Image sources:* [*Johnson*](http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-03/prince-jefri-of-bruneis-trial-features-nude-statues/full/?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*Koons*](http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/oct/07/tate-pop-life-sex-art?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*homepage image*](http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/popart/images/JeffKoons-Dirty-Jeff-on-Top-1991.jpg?ref=hyperallergic.com)