Belle du Mardi, belle du Mecredi, belle du Jeudi, belle du Vendredi, belle du Samedi
MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique is delighted to present its first exhibition of Austrian artist collective Gelitin.
Arguably the world’s most recognizable artwork, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa finds itself playfully subverted in a new series of various sizes and shapes, in plasticine, glass and other mixed media.
Despite the works’ bright colors, their somewhat comical, and intentionally naif re-interpretation of Da Vinci’s iconic painting leave the viewer with a sense of discomfort, opening the door to further considerations. Firstly, by turning this unique art historical masterpiece into a series – begun in 2007 and restarted in 2020 - Gelitin face us with the reality of Walter Benjamin’s seminal The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction: the Mona Lisa has been seen, reproduced and copied to such an extent that even its parody is instantly recognizable, whilst still contributing to strengthening its importance and “universality”. The Mona Lisa is no longer a unique, covetable work. Instead, it becomes one of many. “Bad artists borrow, great artists steal” this idea, attributed to Picasso, is particularly fitting, also because Gelitin reproduced Picasso’s Guernica in a similar plasticine series, questioning the limits of authorship and originality. Furthermore, the use of plasticine immediately alludes to children’s all time favourite: playdough. Far from a “noble” art historical material, its pastiness gives the works texture and depth, making the artsits’ touch clearly visible in the composition. More that paintings, Gelitin’s Mona Lisa series are more akin to wall sculptures, playing with volume and three
dimensions. Bulging noses, single eyes, ball-shaped heads… the Mona Lisa is kneaded like bread as it passes through the filter of Gelitin’s transformative manipulations, to emerge, cartoon-like on the other side. As if from an alternate reality, the 21st Century Mona Lisa is still as iconic, perhaps even more likeable now that she is taken down from her pedestal…
The Artist
Gelitin is a collective comprised of Wolfgang Gantner, Ali Janka, Florian Reither, and Tobias Urban. The four artists first met at a summer camp in 1978, where they began to collaborate. However, Gelitin didn't officially form and begin exhibiting until 1993. They work and live in Vienna, Austria.
Gelitin's projects span a wide range of mediums, from performance and installation to sculpture and new media. Despite this diversity, their work is united by a shared purpose: to challenge the conventional relationship between artwork and audience.
Gelitin frequently invites audience participation in their work, encouraging viewers to become co-creators and collaborators rather than passive spectators. In some cases, they even invite the destruction of the artwork, blurring the boundaries between creation and demolition.
Through their unique blend of humour, spontaneity, childlike naiveté, and bold sexuality, Gelitin has established itself as a pioneering force in the art world. Their work challenges viewers to see the world from a new perspective and embrace the unexpected. By blurring the lines between art and life, Gelitin offers a playful and imaginative escape from the mundane