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Self-portrait as Kurt Cobain, as Andy Warhol, as Myra Hindley, as Marilyn Monroe
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? Courtesy Lisson Gallery and the Artist

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Self-portrait as Kurt Cobain, as Andy Warhol, as Myra Hindley, as Marilyn Monroe 1996
  • Scottish Art
  • Portrait of the Month
In this self-portrait, Gordon merges and mimics iconic images of well-known blondes - Cobain, Warhol, Hindley and Monroe - in a single photograph. All the figures appropriated by Gordon had obviously dyed hair, and the artist contrasts their often notorious life histories with ideas of purity traditionally associated with blondeness. Gordon's pose also refers to 'Rrose Sélavy', the notorious alter ego of the Dada artist, Marcel Duchamp.

Glossary Open

Dada

A radical artistic and literary movement that was a reaction against the cultural climate that supported the First World War. The Dadaists took an anti-establishment attitude, questioning art's status and favouring performance and collage over traditional art techniques. Many Dadaists went on to become involved with Surrealism.

Dada

Details

  • Acc. No. PGP 277.1
  • Medium Hand-coloured photograph and mount
  • Size 75.00 x 75.00 cm (framed: 76.83 x 76.83 x 2.54 cm)
  • Credit Purchased 1998

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Scottish Art
Portrait of the Month