Post-Modern Olympia

A work of art for the so-far untitled project by Tu Voix...

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_{Click on the images to enlarge.}

 The original, Modern Olympia by Paul Cezanne.

 Same, but Photoshopped for easier manipulation and for a feel of "looking at a classic with new eyes"

 Olympia wakes up.

 Asking the servant to leave.

 Who begins to do so.

 Processing...

 Gone.


- Olympia puts some glasses on.

- Olympia focused on the flowerpot, that is then replaced by ((something? what??))

- Then she looks left and right, and showes the curtains on both sides away.

- She focuses on the chandelier, and changes it into a regular lamp.

- She focuses on the table, and the objects on it change into something more usual ((Cola bottle and ?? Something)), and the table itself becomes more regular.

- She looks at the dog, which turns around and flees, running to the left of the image.

- Then she looks at the man, he leans back, afraid, and she extends her hand.

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Paul Cezanne's "Modern Olympia" is about the male gaze, and the idea of "who's looking at who". Post-modernists and especially woman-artists have addressed the issue of male gaze in many ways, so in this incarnation Olympia takes control. The "modern" setting of Olympia is post-modernised by her attention - the furniture and the background in general is replaced with a contemporary setting.

It is often noted about the painting that "the modern man" observing Olympia bears a striking resemblance to Paul Cezanne himself, that it is possible the artist placed himself in the painting. Same can be said about "Post-Modern Olympia"...

The animation was made for a collaborative project I undertook with two music
students for their final major module. The project was an evening of music and art called "Impressionism: Part of a Larger Reality" and it revolved around the idea of looking and listening to impressionist art and music with contemporary eyes and ears. I was the Art Director undertaking one of the three managerial roles within the company "Ma Coeur s'ouvre a ta Voix", with Kaytlyn Reese as the Project Manager and James Stallwood as Musical Director.

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First actual animation attempt. Small size for processing purposes, the actual final thing will be done with some pretty gigantic sizes for projection purposes :P

<URL:stuff/558OlympiaFaff1.swf>