Mid Century Modern Madonna
This is my third in a series of paintings rendered on salvaged canvas from the awnings of our local Ulta cosmetics store. I have intended to paint this retro/modern woman for a while. She is seemingly relaxed, with her arm draped over the back of the chair as though to anchor herself. Or perhaps to hide something behind in her hand? Is her chair a throne, or is she confined to it? A chair is often the thing one is secured to who is held against her will. The chair on which she is perched is called a mid century Madonna. It is not an actual mid century modern design, however, but is a modern knock-off. I honestly don’t know why it is called a Madonna, unless, as my knowledgeable source, Tad, suggested, “This design spawned so many similar chairs that it may be considered ‘The Mother’ of the style.”
Note that her body language places her in a forward leaning motion. She looks interested in something in front of her. She is both observer, and yet has also obviously set herself up to be observed. She is slightly contrapposto, an Italian term that means counterpoise. It usually describes a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs. And while my figure is sitting, to me it works the same way in that it gives the figure a more dynamic, and yet conversely, relaxed, nonchalant appearance. Her arm is aligned with her crossed leg. Her head is almost balanced, leaning ever so slightly to her right side. My research into heraldry says this is the dexter side, as opposed to the sinister, or left side. Her right arm is elevated, and her left hand is down, or in the underhanded position, again hinting at obscuration. Her legs are crossed, implying both defensiveness and seductiveness. (There is a double edged sword for you.)
Her hair is pulled back, fluffy, forming a kind of crown or aura. This also allows her to see and be seen. Her hair is upwardly curled. She seems determined to look perky. Artificial. She seems fresh from the salon. She is perhaps overly conscious about her appearance. This also suggests deception. And she is wearing a headband, which symbolically represents that she is holding back some information. There is a secret that she is not revealing. Alternatively, this can mean that there is something she needs to think carefully about.
The manhole cover calls to mind a corona or aura about her head. This particular cover is from Portland, Oregon. I chose it because that environ is considered to be a good example of a mid mod city, and since I relocated, it is close to where I live. I also liked the simplicity, the rose, and the basket weave design. A book I found on manhole covers explains, “They seal off and provide entry to an underground world of conduits, water mains, power lines, and sewers. They appear by the thousands in our cities, but very few people ever look at them or think about them as art.”
One reason I used the manhole cover is because I wanted to elevate it to the level of art. I also like the idea that it is sealing off the woman, and in fact the world, from danger, or power, or even another realm. The design has a rose in the center, but the viewer can’t see it since the woman’s head is in front of it. I decided, however, to keep the rose in the center of my composition by moving it to the neckline of the woman’s dress.
Roses often symbolize love, passion, desire, femininity, unity and romance. And according to Freud, the rose represents the female genitalia. What does it say that the rose on the manhole cover is behind her head? What does it say that instead of covering it with her intellect, she has chosen to adorn herself with it? Consider that the rose image, which was copied in its metallic state from the metal of the cover, connects itself to the cover in spite of the fact that the woman is sandwiched between the two elements. It is as though she is secured into her position by a magnet force. Or perhaps the flower is blooming through her even though she has attempted to hide it. Consider also that the rose, in the form of a brooch (an ornament fastened to her clothing), is often confused with the word, broach, which means to raise a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion. In other words, the truth will out.
The rose is identified with the Virgin Mary in Christianity. The rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary. Ever since the 1400s, the Franciscans have had a Crown Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Note that in my painting, there are seven Christmas lights in primary colors around the perimeter of the orb. The number seven is a highly spiritual number that is associated with intuition, mysticism, inner wisdom, and a deep inward knowing. So, is this girl a symbol for Mary? She does, indeed, look pretty wholesome.
According to the Urban Dictionary, a “Mary” is “a kind, caring, beautiful, stunning and amazing girl that everyone has to fall in love with. She is committed to one guy only, and is very faithful. She is the best girl you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting in your life. Every time she enters the room, suddenly you are filled with joy, and she is always able to put a giant smile on your face. She makes you feel at home, loved, and like there’s no one else but you. She gets excited about everything, which brightens up your day. Despite how much she’s been through, she’s still the strongest and the most amazing girl you’ll ever meet. She is perfect in every way. She is the best girl you’ll ever meet in your life, and time stops every time you see her, because she is just so beautiful, and everything a guy could ever ask for.”
And strangely enough, a couple of people have pointed out that the figure resembles Mary Tyler Moore in her TV role as Laura Petrie.
So let’s consider these things. A covering indicates that there is a part of yourself that you are trying to hide or are afraid of revealing. It is also a protective device and a portal. The circle symbolizes perfection, completeness, and even immortality. Consider also that this woman figure is a Madonna. She is a symbol of nurturance, passivity and a caring nature. But she also indicates temptation and guilt. Is she simply elevated because she is beautiful?
The lights around the perimeter of the manhole cover represent illumination, of course, but also clarity, guidance and understanding. Light bulbs are a symbol of our consciousness, as well as an indication that one is willing to approach a situation from a new direction. Note, if you please, that the lights are lit but are obviously unplugged. This implies that the woman is her own energy source and that her power stems from an integration of her mind and body, not some external source. The basket weave on the manhole cover symbolizes the womb and the physical body. It denotes abundance and fertility. It can also represent the things that one is holding on to. The way it surrounds the woman’s head indicates the importance of the mind/body connection.
The background is simple, just a little flocked wallpaper intended to ground the subject. Flock, however, is an interesting word with a lot of meanings. The girl could have admirers flocking around her in the physical sense, as in the cult of beauty, or she could have a flock as in a congregation, which elevates her to the spiritual realm.
Note that her body language places her in a forward leaning motion. She looks interested in something in front of her. She is both observer, and yet has also obviously set herself up to be observed. She is slightly contrapposto, an Italian term that means counterpoise. It usually describes a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs. And while my figure is sitting, to me it works the same way in that it gives the figure a more dynamic, and yet conversely, relaxed, nonchalant appearance. Her arm is aligned with her crossed leg. Her head is almost balanced, leaning ever so slightly to her right side. My research into heraldry says this is the dexter side, as opposed to the sinister, or left side. Her right arm is elevated, and her left hand is down, or in the underhanded position, again hinting at obscuration. Her legs are crossed, implying both defensiveness and seductiveness. (There is a double edged sword for you.)
Her hair is pulled back, fluffy, forming a kind of crown or aura. This also allows her to see and be seen. Her hair is upwardly curled. She seems determined to look perky. Artificial. She seems fresh from the salon. She is perhaps overly conscious about her appearance. This also suggests deception. And she is wearing a headband, which symbolically represents that she is holding back some information. There is a secret that she is not revealing. Alternatively, this can mean that there is something she needs to think carefully about.
The manhole cover calls to mind a corona or aura about her head. This particular cover is from Portland, Oregon. I chose it because that environ is considered to be a good example of a mid mod city, and since I relocated, it is close to where I live. I also liked the simplicity, the rose, and the basket weave design. A book I found on manhole covers explains, “They seal off and provide entry to an underground world of conduits, water mains, power lines, and sewers. They appear by the thousands in our cities, but very few people ever look at them or think about them as art.”
One reason I used the manhole cover is because I wanted to elevate it to the level of art. I also like the idea that it is sealing off the woman, and in fact the world, from danger, or power, or even another realm. The design has a rose in the center, but the viewer can’t see it since the woman’s head is in front of it. I decided, however, to keep the rose in the center of my composition by moving it to the neckline of the woman’s dress.
Roses often symbolize love, passion, desire, femininity, unity and romance. And according to Freud, the rose represents the female genitalia. What does it say that the rose on the manhole cover is behind her head? What does it say that instead of covering it with her intellect, she has chosen to adorn herself with it? Consider that the rose image, which was copied in its metallic state from the metal of the cover, connects itself to the cover in spite of the fact that the woman is sandwiched between the two elements. It is as though she is secured into her position by a magnet force. Or perhaps the flower is blooming through her even though she has attempted to hide it. Consider also that the rose, in the form of a brooch (an ornament fastened to her clothing), is often confused with the word, broach, which means to raise a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion. In other words, the truth will out.
The rose is identified with the Virgin Mary in Christianity. The rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary. Ever since the 1400s, the Franciscans have had a Crown Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Note that in my painting, there are seven Christmas lights in primary colors around the perimeter of the orb. The number seven is a highly spiritual number that is associated with intuition, mysticism, inner wisdom, and a deep inward knowing. So, is this girl a symbol for Mary? She does, indeed, look pretty wholesome.
According to the Urban Dictionary, a “Mary” is “a kind, caring, beautiful, stunning and amazing girl that everyone has to fall in love with. She is committed to one guy only, and is very faithful. She is the best girl you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting in your life. Every time she enters the room, suddenly you are filled with joy, and she is always able to put a giant smile on your face. She makes you feel at home, loved, and like there’s no one else but you. She gets excited about everything, which brightens up your day. Despite how much she’s been through, she’s still the strongest and the most amazing girl you’ll ever meet. She is perfect in every way. She is the best girl you’ll ever meet in your life, and time stops every time you see her, because she is just so beautiful, and everything a guy could ever ask for.”
And strangely enough, a couple of people have pointed out that the figure resembles Mary Tyler Moore in her TV role as Laura Petrie.
So let’s consider these things. A covering indicates that there is a part of yourself that you are trying to hide or are afraid of revealing. It is also a protective device and a portal. The circle symbolizes perfection, completeness, and even immortality. Consider also that this woman figure is a Madonna. She is a symbol of nurturance, passivity and a caring nature. But she also indicates temptation and guilt. Is she simply elevated because she is beautiful?
The lights around the perimeter of the manhole cover represent illumination, of course, but also clarity, guidance and understanding. Light bulbs are a symbol of our consciousness, as well as an indication that one is willing to approach a situation from a new direction. Note, if you please, that the lights are lit but are obviously unplugged. This implies that the woman is her own energy source and that her power stems from an integration of her mind and body, not some external source. The basket weave on the manhole cover symbolizes the womb and the physical body. It denotes abundance and fertility. It can also represent the things that one is holding on to. The way it surrounds the woman’s head indicates the importance of the mind/body connection.
The background is simple, just a little flocked wallpaper intended to ground the subject. Flock, however, is an interesting word with a lot of meanings. The girl could have admirers flocking around her in the physical sense, as in the cult of beauty, or she could have a flock as in a congregation, which elevates her to the spiritual realm.
Art Deco Madonna
This painting is a little different in that the subject is a real person. Her name is Myrna Darby and she was a Ziegfield Follies girl. Born to a captain of detectives for the B and O Railroad, Myrna was a bookkeeper in the prohibition enforcement offices in the Pennsylvania House. She was discovered by Ziegfield himself when she was 17. She was once hailed as the most beautiful of the Ziegfield girls and was described by those who knew her as being the most thoughtful and the sweetest girl in show business. Myrna Darby died at the young of 21 due to an acute case of “sunburn and strenuous swimming” which caused an inflammation of her heart. She had been diagnosed with serious heart trouble 6 months prior to her death. The number 21 is often thought to be the transitional age into adulthood, so this caught my attention.
Darby’s story is a tragic one. This, combined with her beauty and sweetness, has always struck a chord in me. I have painted her several times. And she immediately came to mind as a madonna figure when I considered this project. Myrna means peaceful, tender, and beloved. She seems then to be a legitimate Mary figure, and ever since the first time I saw this particular pose with her holding the pearls, I noted that not only did she look angelic, she looked like she was holding a rosary. The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. It is for this reason that I surrounded her aura with fifteen roses. This symbolizes the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary (consisting of the Glorious mysteries, the joyful mysteries, and the Sorrowful mysteries--the Luminous mysteries were later added). Fifteen represents a harmonious life, a synthesis of matter and spirit. I chose to make the roses orange because this color of flower is symbolically linked with fascination. The roses are a hint to look at the way Darby holds the pearls and elevate her to the level of spiritual symbol. I think this idea is further emphasized by the way she seems to gaze off into the distance as though into another realm.
Pearls are said to symbolize the purity, generosity, integrity and loyalty of their wearer. They are believed to offer protection. Unfortunately this was not enough to protect Myrna Darby. When one looks upon her face, it is as though a narrative is waiting to be told. She is indeed physically beautiful, but she also appears to have a mystical beauty.
Note that there is a scarab at the top of the painting. There is also a hint of a sun disk being held over its head. While beetles are often seen as symbols of rebirth and regeneration, they are also indicative that some destructive influences may be at work. This gives them an ominous presence.
In ancient Egyptian religion, the sun god Ra is seen to roll across the sky each day, transforming bodies and souls. The earthly scarab beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber, and is therefore seen as a symbol for the idea of rebirth and regeneration. In fact, Ra was often depicted as a scarab beetle or as a scarab beetle-headed man. Ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri renewed the sun every day before rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day. For these reasons the scarab has become a symbol of immortality and transformation. It is used as a sign of protection in funerary art.
When I was looking for an Art Deco symbol to use as Darby’s halo, I came across this image which is actually a framed mirror. It brought to mind the mathematical term “squaring the circle,” which is sometimes used as a metaphor for trying to do the impossible. It has to do with the fact that pi was proven to be a “transcendental” number. This seemed to further enhance my idea that Darby was the perfect figure to place in this piece. As I was working on the squares, it occurred to me that they looked very plain painted as I had painted them in gradients of different colors. All the while I worked I had been thinking of the many things Darby had missed by dying so young. I had also been reading a lot about Abstract Expressionism, and the idea bloomed in my mind to transform each of the small squares into abstract paintings. Some are recognizable and are tributes to those particular artists. Some are my own creations. There are 24 of them and they are shadowed against the canvas behind them. This is another reference, I guess a sort of two-pronged one, to the sun as well as to the passage of time, and therefore a means of underlining Darby’s short time on earth. I wanted to give the impression of ticking clock. The sunburst pattern which is repeated across the background of the canvas reiterates this idea, and it was a common pattern in Art Deco designs.
Darby’s story is a tragic one. This, combined with her beauty and sweetness, has always struck a chord in me. I have painted her several times. And she immediately came to mind as a madonna figure when I considered this project. Myrna means peaceful, tender, and beloved. She seems then to be a legitimate Mary figure, and ever since the first time I saw this particular pose with her holding the pearls, I noted that not only did she look angelic, she looked like she was holding a rosary. The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. It is for this reason that I surrounded her aura with fifteen roses. This symbolizes the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary (consisting of the Glorious mysteries, the joyful mysteries, and the Sorrowful mysteries--the Luminous mysteries were later added). Fifteen represents a harmonious life, a synthesis of matter and spirit. I chose to make the roses orange because this color of flower is symbolically linked with fascination. The roses are a hint to look at the way Darby holds the pearls and elevate her to the level of spiritual symbol. I think this idea is further emphasized by the way she seems to gaze off into the distance as though into another realm.
Pearls are said to symbolize the purity, generosity, integrity and loyalty of their wearer. They are believed to offer protection. Unfortunately this was not enough to protect Myrna Darby. When one looks upon her face, it is as though a narrative is waiting to be told. She is indeed physically beautiful, but she also appears to have a mystical beauty.
Note that there is a scarab at the top of the painting. There is also a hint of a sun disk being held over its head. While beetles are often seen as symbols of rebirth and regeneration, they are also indicative that some destructive influences may be at work. This gives them an ominous presence.
In ancient Egyptian religion, the sun god Ra is seen to roll across the sky each day, transforming bodies and souls. The earthly scarab beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber, and is therefore seen as a symbol for the idea of rebirth and regeneration. In fact, Ra was often depicted as a scarab beetle or as a scarab beetle-headed man. Ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri renewed the sun every day before rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day. For these reasons the scarab has become a symbol of immortality and transformation. It is used as a sign of protection in funerary art.
When I was looking for an Art Deco symbol to use as Darby’s halo, I came across this image which is actually a framed mirror. It brought to mind the mathematical term “squaring the circle,” which is sometimes used as a metaphor for trying to do the impossible. It has to do with the fact that pi was proven to be a “transcendental” number. This seemed to further enhance my idea that Darby was the perfect figure to place in this piece. As I was working on the squares, it occurred to me that they looked very plain painted as I had painted them in gradients of different colors. All the while I worked I had been thinking of the many things Darby had missed by dying so young. I had also been reading a lot about Abstract Expressionism, and the idea bloomed in my mind to transform each of the small squares into abstract paintings. Some are recognizable and are tributes to those particular artists. Some are my own creations. There are 24 of them and they are shadowed against the canvas behind them. This is another reference, I guess a sort of two-pronged one, to the sun as well as to the passage of time, and therefore a means of underlining Darby’s short time on earth. I wanted to give the impression of ticking clock. The sunburst pattern which is repeated across the background of the canvas reiterates this idea, and it was a common pattern in Art Deco designs.
Electronic Madonna
Electronic Madonna makes her debut! Measuring 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall (when the loose canvas has been stretched over a frame), this is a big girl with a big message. I am not sure what exactly inspired me to paint an android as a Madonna figure. Perhaps I wanted to go in a very different direction from my previous painting, which was quite classical in both appearance and symbolism. Mostly, I suppose, I wanted to consider those things we do in an attempt to be human. As this figure came to life, so to speak, on the canvas, it struck me that she seems to be almost desperate in her quest.
Instead of holding pearls or a rosary, this woman holds Mardi Gras beads. Not as elegant as pearls, but just as loaded with symbolism. For example, their colors are important. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. Three worthwhile concepts that should be held close. They could even be said to be the basis of her religion. They are also plastic. This means obviously that they are cheap, but plasticity can mean several things. On a positive note, it implies flexibility. On the other hand, however, plastic objects are considered to be fake, artificial and even insensitive. All of these attributes can be applied likewise to the Madonna. Beads are, of course, decorative. When this idea is carried to the extreme, they can be symbolic of one’s need to please others or to strive for perfection. What then does it say that she is holding a handful of them?
She also casually holds a snake, an image that invokes fear in many because they are unpredictable and can strike at anytime without warning. I wanted the snake to hint at the android’s animal nature, or in this case, her lack of it. She must carry it around with her. Conversely, with its ability to shed its skin, the snake also represents the hope of transformation.
Also within her grasp are a couple of phone chargers. This to me seems like a strange attempt to never lose vigor and life energy, a reminder that an android is dependent on an exterior source, and that she must repeatedly be revitalized. This leads also to a sense of isolation from others. And while only the glow of the telephone is readily visible in the image, the phone chargers are referential to that form of communication and represents the android’s relationships with others--also in this case, disconnected.
Across the Madonna’s left arm there is a bouquet of roses. The plants are there to represent fertility, spiritual development, potential and growth. They may also indicate a desire to be closer to nature. According to Freud, the rose represents the female genitalia. This makes sense as the snake is a phallic symbol. Unfortunately, these roses are plastic. This is not obvious at first, but if you look closely, there is one lone Dollar Store tag still attached to a stem. (Hmmm… once we note this, can we avoid wondering if that is a rubber snake?)
There are, however, some realistic plants in this image. There are some vines around the tops of some of the fence posts. These quickly growing plants indicate that time is passing swiftly, and perhaps even passing the Madonna by--she will soon be an obsolete model.
The choice of color is always deliberate. Consider the background. The magenta represents compassion, while blue is tranquility, openness, truth and wisdom, and purple is the color of royalty and dignity. All of these cool colors lean toward a nighttime palette and are a backdrop to set off the iron fence behind the android. All fences are barriers. They can symbolize a need for protection. If the condition and construction of the fence are analogous to her emotional state, this fence is very open, providing little privacy, letting us know that the subject is willing to let people in. In this case the fence is behind her, which leaves her with only one path, going forward. The fact that it is iron implies a certain harshness. This is further reinforced by the barbs at the top and bottom, which are somewhat camouflaged as a decorative design element. Keep in mind that iron can also be a symbol of strength and endurance.
Apple branches hang from the fence forming a kind of wreath about the Madonna’s head. The apple tree is often a symbol of grandeur and magnificence, while the fruit universally symbolizes knowledge. But these apples are doomed to dry out hanging from their branches on the fence. In fact, they have been further doomed as slices have already been cut from the plumpest ones. Perhaps this is to underscore the temptation often associated with the apple?
The stained glass surrounding the Madonna’s head like an aura, signifies enlightenment, as though she seeks guidance from a higher source. The dominant colors are blue and yellow, calling to mind freshness, and the pattern is one of stylized flowers. But really isn’t this just another example of fake flowers and decoration? Note also that the stained glass window obscures more than it reveals. And it is laced onto the fence with a vine, almost as though the vine has naturally grown there, and yet the viewer knows this is impossible.
Between the uprights of the fence, there are a series of barely visible human skulls--another hint that this robotic woman’s ultimate dream is to become human. But that is not her only dream. Note the “electric sheep” that is perched at the crown of the aura. While the sheep is partially pixelated, the viewer is more inclined to think it is degenerating rather than emerging. In many ways this is indeed a dark painting, leading the viewer to doubt that Electronic Madonna will ever totally achieve her goal.
Instead of holding pearls or a rosary, this woman holds Mardi Gras beads. Not as elegant as pearls, but just as loaded with symbolism. For example, their colors are important. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. Three worthwhile concepts that should be held close. They could even be said to be the basis of her religion. They are also plastic. This means obviously that they are cheap, but plasticity can mean several things. On a positive note, it implies flexibility. On the other hand, however, plastic objects are considered to be fake, artificial and even insensitive. All of these attributes can be applied likewise to the Madonna. Beads are, of course, decorative. When this idea is carried to the extreme, they can be symbolic of one’s need to please others or to strive for perfection. What then does it say that she is holding a handful of them?
She also casually holds a snake, an image that invokes fear in many because they are unpredictable and can strike at anytime without warning. I wanted the snake to hint at the android’s animal nature, or in this case, her lack of it. She must carry it around with her. Conversely, with its ability to shed its skin, the snake also represents the hope of transformation.
Also within her grasp are a couple of phone chargers. This to me seems like a strange attempt to never lose vigor and life energy, a reminder that an android is dependent on an exterior source, and that she must repeatedly be revitalized. This leads also to a sense of isolation from others. And while only the glow of the telephone is readily visible in the image, the phone chargers are referential to that form of communication and represents the android’s relationships with others--also in this case, disconnected.
Across the Madonna’s left arm there is a bouquet of roses. The plants are there to represent fertility, spiritual development, potential and growth. They may also indicate a desire to be closer to nature. According to Freud, the rose represents the female genitalia. This makes sense as the snake is a phallic symbol. Unfortunately, these roses are plastic. This is not obvious at first, but if you look closely, there is one lone Dollar Store tag still attached to a stem. (Hmmm… once we note this, can we avoid wondering if that is a rubber snake?)
There are, however, some realistic plants in this image. There are some vines around the tops of some of the fence posts. These quickly growing plants indicate that time is passing swiftly, and perhaps even passing the Madonna by--she will soon be an obsolete model.
The choice of color is always deliberate. Consider the background. The magenta represents compassion, while blue is tranquility, openness, truth and wisdom, and purple is the color of royalty and dignity. All of these cool colors lean toward a nighttime palette and are a backdrop to set off the iron fence behind the android. All fences are barriers. They can symbolize a need for protection. If the condition and construction of the fence are analogous to her emotional state, this fence is very open, providing little privacy, letting us know that the subject is willing to let people in. In this case the fence is behind her, which leaves her with only one path, going forward. The fact that it is iron implies a certain harshness. This is further reinforced by the barbs at the top and bottom, which are somewhat camouflaged as a decorative design element. Keep in mind that iron can also be a symbol of strength and endurance.
Apple branches hang from the fence forming a kind of wreath about the Madonna’s head. The apple tree is often a symbol of grandeur and magnificence, while the fruit universally symbolizes knowledge. But these apples are doomed to dry out hanging from their branches on the fence. In fact, they have been further doomed as slices have already been cut from the plumpest ones. Perhaps this is to underscore the temptation often associated with the apple?
The stained glass surrounding the Madonna’s head like an aura, signifies enlightenment, as though she seeks guidance from a higher source. The dominant colors are blue and yellow, calling to mind freshness, and the pattern is one of stylized flowers. But really isn’t this just another example of fake flowers and decoration? Note also that the stained glass window obscures more than it reveals. And it is laced onto the fence with a vine, almost as though the vine has naturally grown there, and yet the viewer knows this is impossible.
Between the uprights of the fence, there are a series of barely visible human skulls--another hint that this robotic woman’s ultimate dream is to become human. But that is not her only dream. Note the “electric sheep” that is perched at the crown of the aura. While the sheep is partially pixelated, the viewer is more inclined to think it is degenerating rather than emerging. In many ways this is indeed a dark painting, leading the viewer to doubt that Electronic Madonna will ever totally achieve her goal.
Illuminated Madonna: The Oracle
"Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not."
"Vanity destroys your work. That's the one thing you have to let go of as an actor. I don't care how sexy or beautiful any woman is. At the end of the day, she has to take her makeup off. At the end of the day, she's more than just pretty."
Viola Davis
"Vanity destroys your work. That's the one thing you have to let go of as an actor. I don't care how sexy or beautiful any woman is. At the end of the day, she has to take her makeup off. At the end of the day, she's more than just pretty."
Viola Davis