Madonna Mercedes, 1989

About the Work

The title ‘Madonna Mercedes’ identifies both the motif from which the collage has been assembled and the overall shape resulting from the individual pasted-on parts – the half-length figure of a Madonna. In Thomas Bayrle’s work a motif derived from pop culture is combined with a figural type quoted from an orthodox icon. By citing the reference systems of religion and consumerism, the artist emphasises the contrast between the masses and the individual, which in his collage virtually merge into a single image.