Original artwork description:

50 x 70 cm - paper and acrylic on canvas - 2021

This painting could have had a thousand names: The Madonna, the New Divinity, the New Goddess, the idol, the Adoration... But in the end I chose the icon. She talks about one of my favorite subjects: social networks. Like "The Influencer", the painting denounces the "content creators" who invade Instagram and Facebook. I once heard in a documentary a specialist speak of a new religion, of communities worshiping almost biblical figures, drinking in their words (or their contents).
My icon is thus covered with real Russian icons (these sacred images that adorn Christian churches) and, almost entirely gray, it gives off the impression of a statue raised to the glory of an influencer. Gold adorns her hair and gives her a divine allure, like a nimbus. Around her, notifications announce that she has obtained likes, subscribers and comments on Instagram.
Moreover, the word “icon” is interesting in this connection for two reasons: it designates the symbol of an application and comes from the ancient Greek “eikon”, which means “image”. "Image" also designates an allegory, a metaphor or a representation of something abstract, or invisible, thus modifying perception.
Also note that I made her nimbus with gold thread directly embroidered on the canvas. This refers to the expression "cousu d'or", which means "rich"...

Materials used:

Acrylic and Paper on canvas

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