Phoenix Palm Masks
For the Love of [Insert Name Here] a Crystalline series
The crystalline series came from a desire to echo and 'copy' Damien Hirst.
The British artist accused numerous times of plagiarism ultimately stated "all my ideas are stolen anyway".
In a way that would not be acceptable in literature or science Hirst tweaks artistic concepts seeded by others and proffers a commercial version.
There's art and then there's artifice; investment practice tends to blur boundaries whereas a cultural aspect will remain steadfast.
For the Love of Damien is the first of many artworks that takes his diamond-studded skull motif (Hirst's title - For the Love of God),
to enshrine heroes, anti-heroes or cult-like figures in an unexpected crystal-studded plant-based incarnation.
Each Phoenix palm mask has upwards of five thousand hand-placed crystals or as with For the Love of Salvador, a couple of thousand googly-eyes.
All 'hair' is styled using harakeke (NZ Flax).
The British artist accused numerous times of plagiarism ultimately stated "all my ideas are stolen anyway".
In a way that would not be acceptable in literature or science Hirst tweaks artistic concepts seeded by others and proffers a commercial version.
There's art and then there's artifice; investment practice tends to blur boundaries whereas a cultural aspect will remain steadfast.
For the Love of Damien is the first of many artworks that takes his diamond-studded skull motif (Hirst's title - For the Love of God),
to enshrine heroes, anti-heroes or cult-like figures in an unexpected crystal-studded plant-based incarnation.
Each Phoenix palm mask has upwards of five thousand hand-placed crystals or as with For the Love of Salvador, a couple of thousand googly-eyes.
All 'hair' is styled using harakeke (NZ Flax).
For the Love of Elvis
For the Love of Elvis - Phoenix palm, Swarovski, acrylic, glass, vinyl, harakeke NZD $5000 €2800
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For the Love of Elvis celebrates the glittering king who captivated the hearts of people.
His charisma bent the world before the world bent him. “Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but you leave 'em all over everything you do”. E Presley |
For the Love of Andy
FtLo Andy - Phoenix palm, Swarovski crystal, acrylic.
2 of 3 available $5000 (€2800) ea
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The For the Love of Andy portraits are
as much alike as possible. Warhol was famous for instant reproductions that fed the growing Pop-Art movement. These 'Anti-Warhols' contrastingly are time-intensive duplicates, each mask has around 5000 hand-placed crystals. "Andy Warhol looks a scream. Hang him on my wall." D Bowie |
For the Love of Andy x 3 - The wigs have dried to the same 'blond' of the central portrait. Warhol had a collection of around fifty blond wigs commissioned from an Italian wigmaker.
For the Love of Salvador
Salvador Dalí, arguably the most famous surrealist of our time. He publically birthed himself out of a large egg; "The new man has to free himself from the past". He continued to reference eggs and a contrasting use of flies as symbolic of death. His moustache, with or without flowers, became iconic as did his wild eyes and slicked-back hair.
An egg as 'mind's-eye' sports a painted fly, suggesting birth and death are interdependent; reincarnation was central to his identity. For Dalí, an eye became an instrument that shows the spectator invisible things. Hiding behind a layer of plastic eyes evokes Dalí's 'paranoiac-critical-method'. Salvador's art is credited with insight into the subconscious, a close relationship with Freudian psychoanalysis and examination into the madness of the human soul. For the Love of Salvador, deranged yet distinct, commemorates Dalí's unequivocal uniqueness. “In classic paintings I look for the unconscious, but in your paintings I look for the conscious” S Freud |
FtLo Salvador - Phoenix palm, googly eyes, harakeke NZ$5000 €2800
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For the Love of Michael
FtLo Michael - Phoenix palm, Swarovski, glass, leather
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Michael Theodore Mouse aka Mickey Mouse, is the most recognisable fictional character of all time.
Characterised as a sympathetic underdog with minimal resources; Mickey relies on sheer wit to overcome obstacles. Based largely on Charlie Chaplin, the wistful champion represents endurance. For the Love of Michael is a dramatic portrait of the indefatigable mouse and shows our hero in a distinguished light with a gaze worthy of Time magazine or the cover of Vogue. “Born of necessity, the little fellow literally freed us of immediate worry.” W Disney |
FtLo Damien (Hirst)
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FtLo Grace (Jones)
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FtLo Dorothy (Gale)
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FtLo David (Bowie)
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FtLo Jesus (ben Joseph)
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FtLo Donald (Trump)
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FtLo Elizabeth (Windsor)
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For the Love of Michael T (Mouse)
For the Love of Andy (Warhol) x 3
For the Love of Salvador (Dali)
Deruwydd: The Memory of Trees Painted series
Sirri - Phoenix palm, acrylic, harakeke NZ$1000 €560
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Chipko - Phoenix, acrylic, harakeke NZ$1000 €560
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Toch - Phoenix palm, acrylic, harakeke NZ$1000 €560
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Devi - Phoenix palm, acrylic, harakeke NZ$1000 €560
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Flambo - Phoenix palm, harakeke, acrylic NZ$1000 €560
These masks are 'tree selfies'.
Faces are an important part of social cognition.
Information gathered from a face helps us understand identity and build relationships.
These masks are an invitation to connect with the plant kingdom and realise compassion.
The foundation of all the masks come from one Phoenix palm in Shelly Bay, Wellington, NZ
Faces are an important part of social cognition.
Information gathered from a face helps us understand identity and build relationships.
These masks are an invitation to connect with the plant kingdom and realise compassion.
The foundation of all the masks come from one Phoenix palm in Shelly Bay, Wellington, NZ
