Manet Revisited, 1961
The spark behind “Manet revisited, 1961” was triggered by a resonance with the following quote found while studying the artist closely:
“Manet’s art was too often dismissed as too pretty, or plain superficial, by critics.
More often than not, this had been the exact criticism aimed towards Mayer (an artist whose human experience inspired nothing but the creation of art deemed to be considered by the institution in which she studied as “too pretty to be taken seriously.”
This lead the artist to ponder on whodictates the value of a certain painting? Whatmakes Manet’s art, during the time it first appeared, ridiculous to the French audience of the 19thcentury when compared to that of AlexandreCabanel, for example, and what makes it any more valuable as a piece of art than those painted Coca Cola or BOURJOIS perfume ads ofthe 1950s and the 1960s (which were illustrated by proficient artists in their own right: Rene Gurau, Bernie Fuchs and Norman Rockwell, to name a few)? and more importantly, why is ugliness more praiseworthy in today’s world of art?
The only authority to give and take away the value of any given artwork is the artist’s own vision and persistence to be heard and appreciated be it ugliness and deformity rendered on canvas backed-up by a dark philosophy or a piece of fantasy dream fluff to advertise Coca Cola while publicizing a silly 60s sitcom.
Therefore, recreating a few favorite paintings of Manet’s using the heavily-criticized, tacky-commerciality of the 1960s style of the artist seemed like the perfect medley to genuinely represent and sum up her personal human experience during college.
The choice of a 1960s setcome was inspired by a friend who would create rom-com situations starring me and my 1960s heartthrobs Elvis Presley and Rick Nelson. During that time in my life, I was beginning a new-found obsession over 'The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" starring the entire family as themselves. Needess to say, I fell right head over heels for the americana aesthetics and the Coca Cola ads in the ad breaks. And so, all pieces of "Manet Revisited, 1961" came together
1. “In The Studio” - oil on canvas - 100 x 70 cms.
