Željko Badurina
Seve – Red, 2002
inkjet print on canvas
100 x 100 cm
MG-6844
In his work, Željko Badurina (1966) often problematizes contemporary visual culture and social life phenomena, such as mass media, consumer society, and kitsch manifestations at different social levels. His work is characterized by humor, irony, absurdity, and Luddism, as well as reinterpretation, simulation, montage procedures, and the frequent use of ready-made and pop art. In the pop artist series of portraits, he uses enlarged photos of famous people, which are conceptually based on the works of Andy Warhol. The images are enlarged to a format of 100 x 100 cm, whereby each person gets their characteristic color. The artist thus humorously translates Warhol's process of duplicating the same motif into a domestic situation, reflecting the socio-cultural context in which we live.
"Seve - Red" is a portrait of Severina, one of the most famous singers in Croatia. The work is made with inkjet printed on canvas, using bright colors and high contrast to emphasize the iconographic status of the subject. Alluding to Warhol's portraits of Marilyn Monroe, it shows her against a red background with signature red lipstick and green eyeshadow. By presenting Severina as a pop-culture icon, it indicates the transience and superficiality of such fame, therefore this portrait should be viewed as a comment on the phenomenon of celebrity culture and its influence on society.
At the same time, and in today's context, the portrayal of Severina as a celebrity figure who actively participates in social changes opens up questions about the role and responsibility of public figures in society. Known for her support of social and political issues, including women's rights and the LGBTIQA+ community, Severina uses her popularity to draw attention to critical social problems.
Text: Marta Radman, curator of the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by: Marta Radman
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb