GODDESSES AND SUBDITS; The exquisite artwork of Mariana Monteagudo

This post is my third one on Mariana Monteagudo's stunning doll sculptures. Her latex, ceramic and mixed-media dolls are intriguing and fascinating. Her artwork covers a wide range of expressions, from the pre-Columbian aesthetics, to fashion, pop culture, Japanese manga and mass-market toys.

Mariana Monteagudo is a Venezuelan artist who has been working on various series of Muñecas (Dolls) over the last decade. Muñecas is the generic term Monteagudo uses to describe her creations since 1998. She has received several awards, and her artwork has been featured in solo, group shows and fairs in Madrid, Miami, Chicago, Aruba, Caracas, New York, Sao Paulo, and other venues. Monteagudo's striking and unusual pieces have attracted the attention of many critics and her work is part of the MOLAA Museum in California, Everson Museum, NY, Cesar Gaviria Trujillo Collection, Columbia, among other contemporary art collections.

In my latest 2012 series, Goddesses & Subdits, I wanted to make an interpretation of the power of beauty and femininity over others. These goddesses, queens and princesses are at the top of their society. They look over their shoulders and watch us from another dimension. They are powerful, magnetic, proud, coquette, dominant and they know how to cast their spell....
~~~Mariana Monteagudo

Mariana Monteagudo lives and works in Miami, Florida. Her artwork is on display at JustMad Mia art fair, Soho Studios at The Wynwood Convention Center, Miami.

Mariana Monteagudo

Goddesses & Subdits

Courtesy of the artist

Images © Mariana Monteagudo

Goddesses & Subdits 

JustMad Mia art fair 2012, Miami, FL

December 6 - 9, 2012

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Gangnam For Freedom - Anish Kapoor and Friends

Leading members of the cultural world gathered at Anish Kapoor's London studio to make a special Gangnam Style film in support of the artist, Ai Weiwei. The film has been choreographed by Akram Khan. Those who took part included artists Mark Wallinger, Bob and Roberta Smith and Tom Phillips, dancers Tamara Rojo and Deborah Bull, Southbank Centre Director Jude Kelly and many others.

Kapoor's film has won support from various human rights organizations, among them, Amnesty International, Liberty, Index on Censorship and The Helen Bamber Foundation. The Gangnam style film has just been posted on YouTube:

" Our film aims to make a serious point about freedom of speech and freedom of expression. It is our hope that this gesture of support for Ai Weiwei and all prisoners of conscience will be wide-ranging and will help to emphasize how important these freedoms are to us all."

~~~Anish Kapoor

Ai Weiwei's parody of rapper PSY's popular music film used handcuffs to comment on the lack of freedom in China. The film was immediately removed from the web by the Chinese authorities.

The Frimousses de Créateurs 2012: "YES FUTUR" !

Since 2003, the Frimousses de Créateurs action has been symbolizing the extraordinary alliance between fashion, art and humanitarian involvement. Every year, fashion houses, jewelers, artists and designers exert their talent for the benefit of children from Darfur. Organized by UNICEF the sweet Frimousses will celebrate their 10th anniversary with the theme "Yes Futur".

This event offers to great figures such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior an opportunity to consolidate their loyalty, and for new creators such as Roure, the French jeweler or the painter Carlos Cruz-Diez an opportunity to get involved into this solidarity action.

This year, from November 27 to December 2, the "artwork" dolls will be on display at the Petit Palais. The auction will take place in this exceptional location, a unique place for the first time in 10 years. Viewers will be able to admire the exquisite creations and may succumb to one of these Frimousses.

Here are some of my favorite Frimousses.

" YES FUTUR "

Jean Paul Gaultier

Missoni

Issey Miyake

Prada

Gucci

Dolce Gabbana

Maison Lesage by Hubert Barrère

Giorgio Armani

Yulia Yanina

Chacok

See post on Frimousses de Créateurs 2011
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REED + RADER; 'Cretaceous Returns', a land before time...

Cretaceous Returns is a peek into the prehistoric underbelly of dino-daddies Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader, the digital art pioneers best known for their spellbinding fashion stories. The wonders of modern digital technology have made possible the chance to enter prehistoric environments to adventure with dinosaurs.

Reed + Rader are launching Cretaceous Returns, their first UK solo show at 18 Hewett Street, London on November 8th, 2012. The Brooklyn-based duo is now set to transform the gallery's clean white space into a land before time. Paper glass foliage with hidden, small colorful dinosaurs amongst the green will line the walls, with large scale projections setting the scene for Reed + Rader's free standing dinosaur.

" We want you to take an adventure back to the dinosaur times and enter a tropical jungle filled with tall grass and foliage - GIF animations showing different characters, a video of colorful dinosaurs dancing to dubstep, a side-scrolling video game-like adventure to explore and meet new friends...."
~~Pamela Reed + Matthew Rader

Reed + Rader

Cretaceous Returns

 Copyright © Reed + Rader

 © Reed + Rader

 © Reed + Rader

 © Reed + Rader

 © Reed + Rader

© Reed + Rader

© Reed + Rader

© Reed + Rader

Courtesy of Pamela Reed + Matthew Rader

Cretaceous Returns

18 Hewett Street, London

November 8th, 2012 to November 20th, 2012

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