Madonnelle
Madonnelle
2025
A series inspired by the mythology amassed around femininity. How women are elevated, molded, and eviscerated by the prevailing hegemonies of mankind.
Madonnelle 01 and 02 explores how femininity is both venerated and constrained by dominant cultural narratives. Drawing upon mythology and devotional iconography, the work interrogates the hegemonies that shape gendered identity. The title and form references Madonnelle-street shrines dedicated to Mary Magdalene found throughout Rome. The image housed within each structure is an animation of Lena Forsen, the 1972 Playboy centerfold whose likeness was used to formulate the JPEG compression algorithm. By juxtaposing sacred form with commodified image, Madonnelle critiques the persistent exploitation and idealization of women in both historical and digital contexts.
Madonnelle 01
