THE NEW YORK TIMES
February 24, 2011
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| "Sacrilegio" by Francesco Vezzoli |
NEW YORK--Like the stand-up comedian, the professional provocateur needs an acute sense of timing, flawless delivery, an extrasensory awareness of audience psychology and a basket of surprising ideas. Franceso Vezzoli's present exhibition in which digital copies of old master Madonna and Child paintings with Mary’s face replaced by the visages of supermodels, falls utterly flat. Displayed in heavy, rounded gold frames that droop as if melting at the bottom — part Art Nouveau, part Surrealist — the paintings hang in individual alcoves of a simulated, dark-walled chapel. Who is the audience for such sophomoric, pseudo-blasphemy? Devout Roman Catholics who never go to galleries? Rudolph Giuliani? The pope? It is hard to imagine typical gallerygoers having their faith in art or divinity shaken. [
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| "Crying Portrait of Kim Alexis as a Madonna" |
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