GEMGENÈVE SHOW - FLAIR PROJECT
ORIGINS
According to Greek mythology, Medusa was a beautiful woman pursued by the god Poseidon who wished to possess her. She hid in the temple of Athena and asked her to help her. Instead of helping her, Athena metamorphosed her, growing snakes in place of her hair and making her gaze so petrifying that any mortal looking into her eyes would turn to stone.
VISION
Through the eyes of humans and the attributions given to their gods, Medusa was transformed from a pure being into a monster. And if her beauty has been degraded to the point of being terrifying, if the symbol of Medusa remains that of danger and violence, I wanted to give her back all her presence.
REFLECTION
Like gems, which are stones that have been transcended into jewels, this Medusa is the representation of sublimated beauty. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, aquamarines, garnets, beryls, diamonds… So many colours and splendours to make what we fear our greatest charm. Here, the (precious) stone that dresses our body is no longer a disgrace but an attraction.
The Medusa is also a symbol of female power. Imagine a gaze so powerful that it can change the intrinsic nature of whoever meets it. Is this not the greatness of what desire and beauty can provide?
It is up to each of us to choose whether to make the world ugly or beautiful through our eyes, and whether to turn our stones into pure jewels. If the eyes are the mirror of the soul, this Medusa is only the reflection of ourselves.
COMPOSITION
Unlike the Medusa of the Greeks who turns those who meet her gaze to stone, this portrait is itself made of stone. The body is taken from the bust of a statue.
The face has been digitally saturated.
The snake hair is made of a multitude of gems.
The scarab is a powerful totem: linked to the sun, it is a symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Translated into Egyptian as “Kheper”, it means “rebirth”.