Contemporary artists often turn to old masterworks as inspiration or to reinterpret their composition and subject matter. sometimes these artists are referred to as "Copyists" but wha tevery label, masterwork references can be seen in work by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Robert Longo, and too many other artist to list. This is exactly what Sam Taylor-Wood has done in her "Self Pieta," c type print photograph, c. 1976. the artist has photographed a man across the lap of a woman of similar age and positioned them on stairs. the artist is brave if not a clever soul to take on Michelangelo's "Pieta."
"Pieta" (1499) is a marble life-size sculpture of Mary holding Christ's body across her knees after his crucifixion. Michelangelo sculpted this masterwork when he was only twenty four years old. This work is highly finished and is considered by most art critics and we commoners to be a masterpiece. Rather than signs of agony and suffering that one would expect on the faces of Jesus and Mary, their faces are serene and in a state of peace. The whole work conveys a sense of promise and hope for the future, rather than tragedy. Did Taylor-Wood measure up as an artist with her work?
Taylor-Wood is the young woman who has a man, the actor Robert Downey Jr draped across her lap. The pose is similar to Christ's body draped across Mary's lap in Michelangelo's work. Again, like Michelangelo's, Taylor-Wood as Madonna shows strong muscular legs, even masculine ones. this is a good thing, as she needs to be strong to bear the incredible burden of of a man's body in her lap. The man's eyes are closed and his arms are out-stretched. He looks fast asleep. The woman/Madonna is gazing into his face with concern. like Michelangelo's you see that there is a a relationship between the two figures. they are in a state of grace , bliss, and rapture, whereas Taylor-Wood in her looks compassionate and amused.
When one views Sam Taylor-Wood's "Self Pieta" you get it- the references and the artist's intent. The Michelangelo's original can leave you in awe, while Taylor-Wood's photograph makes you smile.
Self Pieta 2001 Sam Taylor-Woods b. 1967 C print type 49 x 49 in
Pieta 1499 Michelangelo 147-1564
174 cm St. Peter’s
http://www.tba21.org/program/exhibitions/9/artwork/380?category=exhibit
http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/art/all/00304/facts.michelangelocomplete_work.htm
Alexander Roos
Blog Ass#3
1 comment:
I really enjoy these types of "copyist" pieces! For me it brings to mind the paintings of Salvador Dali, and how "The Angelus" reappeared over and over within works throughout his career. Art which incorporates, references, builds from, or is inspired by other art is a fascinating and slippery subject I much enjoy trying to wrap my head around. The dilemma of authorship is especially perplexing.
I had a conversation with a friend recently about how each generation of artists builds off everything those before them have learned, and how we thus continue to make progress into new uncharted territories to this day. In that respect one could argue that no artist has ever truly been sole author of his or her work! This is especially true today, in the age of homage and pastiche.
If you’re familiar with the work of Gustav Klimt there’s another stunning example of this phenomenon in the opening title sequence to the anime Elfen Lied, which reconfigures Klimt’s classic paintings to incorporate the cast of the series to great effect.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMT6xUDMI4 Seeing Klimt’s paintings come to life, albeit in a contemporized form, is something wonderful to behold. Here’s a link with some images from the sequence placed side by side with their respective inspirations: http://elfenlied.broken-frontier.de/intro.html#item2 (These represent but a fraction of the pieces referenced in the sequence)
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