Madonnas Queens and Other Heroes

This wonderful, lavishly designed art publication is part of the inter-media project 'Madonnas Queens & Other Heroes' by the artist Marlies Pekarek.

The publication consists of 3 pieces - an 80-page book, a rose scented soap Madonna packed in easterbunny-ear-shaped plastic, and a Kali drawing by Geraldine Searles - altogether assembled in a transparent slipcase.

A trip to Australia awoke in Pekarek an interest in social and religious traditions of different cultures.

Against this backdrop she addresses the tension between the object of art, anonymous folk art and mass industrial products - between original and copy.

The book contains examples of the latest work series with newly interpreted portraits by high Renaissance old masters and Mannerism, which are transformed into "Madonnas Queens & Other Heroes" on waxed paper or as black and white collages.

The sculptural works - a Madonna multiple forms part of the book - act as protagonists of a rather bizarre comic by Australian artist Geraldine Searles.

Double gate folds reveal them and take the reader on an adventure trip.

With a preface by Roland Waspe and texts by Barbara Stark, Corinne Schatz, Marina Schutz and Ursula Badrutt.