Pool Y Marianela: Kidstianism,
with Click Mort & Dan Barry
Exhibition: February 2-25
Reception: Fri. Feb. 2, 8-11 PM
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
www.laluzdejesus.com

Pool y Marianela – Tygra (Thundercats) action figure with epoxy putty, on wooden cross, 11.8″x9.8″
Pool y Marianela – Kidstianism
Argentine artists, Marianela Perelli and Pool Paolini, turned 33 models of Barbie and Ken into religious icons for an exhibition called “Barbie, the Plastic Religion“. The show featured Barbie as the Virgin Mary and Ken as Jesus Christ and included religious figures from Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism with versions of Barbie as Joan of Arc, Mary Magdalene and the Virgin of Lourdes. The show provoked widespread controversy in several languages from Argentina to France. As a result, the artists were invited by Mattel and Les Art Decoratifs to display four of their pieces in the museum of decorative arts in the Palais du Louvre, Paris, and were also received in the Vatican by Pope Francis who accepted a gift of their Barbie, “Our Lady of Lujan“.
How many living artists are in the personal collection of The Pope?
For their latest show, Pool y Marianela are returning to the tropes of religion and escapism via Kidstianism, which transforms popular dolls and action figures into religious icons. The centerpiece of this sure-to-be-controversial exhibition will be a life-sized, full-body, edible Christ cake, which will be sold by the slice.
- Robin (Superpowers) original action figure with epoxy putty, on wooden cross, 10.6″x8.6″,
- He-Man (Masters of the Universe) original action figure with epoxy putty, on wooden cross,11″x8.6cm
- She-Ra (Princess of Power) original action figure with epoxy putty, on wooden cross, 11″x8.6cm
- Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) original action figure with epoxy putty, on wooden cross, 8.6″x5.9″
- MacGyver acrylic on canvas, 47.2″x37.7″
- G.I. Joe acrylic on canvas, 47.2″x37.7″
Full preview can be found at this link