Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Donovan, Simon |
Title |
Hail Holy Queen |
Date |
2003 |
Medium |
Mixed media |
Culture |
American (U.S.) |
School |
Tucson Artist |
Object ID |
2006.34.1 |
Collection |
Contemporary Art (1970-present) |
Object Name |
Painting |
Credit line |
Gift of David Longwell |
Didactic Information |
Simon Donovan references Southwest stereotypes such as saguaros, snakes, and Hohokam figures and puts a unique spin on such clichés, transforming the commercialism of the symbols into unique works of art. Many of his works reflect his Irish heritage, including his Catholic upbringing, which intermingles with his impressions of the uniqueness of southern Arizona. Hail Holy Queen (2003) is an acrylic, epoxy resin, ink, and acetate on aluminum painting, depicting a sculptural fragment of the Virgin Mary that Donovan found in a shop in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The effect of the armless, headless female figure conjures Greek Athena figures and the cult of the Virgin, an offshoot of female goddess worship. To the artist, the physically-distressed artifact of Catholicism serves as a metaphor for the "irrepressible and un-removable layers of a Catholic upbringing" that are imprinted on his psyche. In this work, the photographically rendered garment of the saint floats above a brilliant turquoise background, reminiscent of the painted adobe walls of Mexican cities and villages. The raking shadow of the garment accentuates the illusion of its dimensionality. Across the surface of the painting, Donovan has scratched irregular lines of text from passages of "Salve Regina," a Latin mass chant. By etching over both foreground and background, the artist creates a tension between the illusion of depth and the painting's physical flatness. The shiny qualities of the exposed aluminum accentuate the text, further reinforcing the sacredness of the words and rituals of Catholicism. (Feb. 2012) |