Andy Warhol | Marilyns : Andipa, London
“The more you look at the same exact thing, the more the meaning goes away, and the better and emptier you feel.” Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol’s Marilyn series has become the pinnacle and most quintessential symbol of the Pop art movement. This exhibition has collated Warhol’s most recognisable series, displaying each screen-print of the immortal Marilyn Monroe in all its vibrant, pop art grandeur.
Warhol’s Marilyn series is made up of a repeat of ten almost identical silkscreen prints of the actress Marilyn Monroe, an icon of pop culture whose face is universally recognisable. The flat medium of screen prints did not allow for minute detail, therefore flaws, meaning Marilyn is presented how society saw her – perfect. Each print is coloured differently to highlight different features. In some her lips are a bold red, alluding to sex-symbol status of the actress. In others, her iconic platinum blonde hair is exaggerated by a bold, gaudy yellow. The flashy graphic style conjures up Monroe’s vivacious public appearance, whilst the variety of colour highlights her complexity and multifaceted identity; that of the celebrity and that of the person. Each portrait shows the seemingly impenetrable and unattainable façade of a celebrity, but with an unsettling void of personability that hints at the much darker reality of fame. The portraits reveal the anonymity of an empty obsession. By using impersonal and easily recognisable imagery, Pop artists such as Warhol moved away from the personal symbolism and feelings that dominated the previous art movement, abstract expressionism, harking a return to representational art.
For more information on our selection of Andy Warhol signed prints for sale, contact Andipa Editions.
