Artist stages gory protest against violent film posters

British-born artist Jon Burgerman has been staging a series of unusual “interventions” against violent posters in subways to shocking effect.

[Jim Carrey refuses to promote 'Kick Ass 2' in protest against violence]

The series of photos posted on his blog show the artist positioned in front of advertising hoardings emblazoned with film and TV characters brandishing weapons.

Blood, bullet-holes, and arrow-wounds have been digitally-added to give the impression of the ads coming to life, meting out destruction on Burgerman.

[Honest posters for 2014 Oscar-nominated films]

The project entitled ‘Head Shots’ can be found on his blog here, which describes the Nottingham Trent Fine Art graduate as "a NYC based artist interested in instigating improvisation and play through drawing and spectacle.”

We spoke to Jon via email to find out why he wanted to stage these eye-catching photos, here's what he had to say:

"The idea for this project came to me for two reasons: 1 - With each reoccurring high-profile tragedy in the US involving shootings, I find myself being evermore paranoid and vigilant when I leave my apartment - my senses attuned to seeking out and avoiding any potential trouble."

"Whilst on the look out for guns and violence in general, I've noticed there are some very obvious threats right under our noses, in plain view, for everyone to see.

How have we missed these? Who are these people aiming at?

2 - I thought it would interesting to add myself back into the suggested scenes and complete the compositions to their natural conclusions."

"This body of work is part of what I call a 'quiet intervention', where subtle, often cheap, nonpermanent actions drastically (and sometimes comically) alter the reading of a signifier, object or situation.

It's my belief that through these playful, creative acts, Art can act as an agent to change the world, by being the catalysis to allow people to change their worlds."

Burgerman co-produced the 2013 documentary ‘The Great Hip-Hop Hoax’.

This isn’t the first time photos of violent film posters have gone viral. Who can forget this memorable ‘Skyfall’/‘Lincoln’ juxtaposition?!

Or this image of Elmo brandishing a gun on Netflix?