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Magnus Gjoen x MEISSEN - Love conquers all
#POWEROFLOVE
#POWEROFLOVE
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Love is a celestial power that, according to Greek mythology, is awakened in people by Cupid. The amor, appearing in angelic form, is always to be found with a bow and a quiver full of arrows. Being pierced through the heart by Cupid's arrows plunges one into hopeless love. But there is no point in resisting Cupid's power, because you cannot resist love. Amor Vincit Omnia- love conquers all.
Cupid's efforts were already expressed between 1877 and 1880 by sculptor Heinrich Schwabe. The established member of the Meissen figure ensemble gave the messenger of love human, almost bourgeois traits in an ironically humorous way. Thus, one of Schwabe's figures as a tailor mends a broken heart, while another as a blacksmith kindles the fire of love.
And what happens when the traditional Amor figures of the MEISSEN porcelain manufactory meet the Anglo-Norwegian artist Magnus Gjoen? It is precisely these traditional masterpieces that form the basis of the internationally acclaimed artist's work. After living in Switzerland, Denmark and Italy, the London-born Magnus studied fine art and fashion design before initially beginning his career as a designer. It wasn't until he was decorating his walls, by his own admission, that he accidentally returned to art. In his works, exhibited worldwide, he combines pop art motifs, graphic patterns or contemporary objects with a fine art approach. In this way, Gjoen transports entire works of art by European masters or individual fragments of historical gems into our time with a new twist, and his approach reveals new perspectives. And just as Magnus Gjoen often focuses on the rediscovery of the past, MEISSEN also stands for the combination of tradition and modernity. Reason enough, then, for these two worlds to meet with their shared passion for art and craftsmanship. And so now in an exciting collaboration are three angel figurines in a limited edition.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
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Already in earlier centuries porcelain figurines were not only beautiful decoration on a festive table. They also served to stimulate conversation - not infrequently amusing and sometimes provocative. For the people at court loved nothing more than to be well entertained and to chat about delicate topics. Magnus Gjoen's interpretation of the Amor figures is also intended to encourage people to exchange ideas, for more togetherness and attentiveness. To this end, he has replaced the original love-related objects of the Amor figures with barbed wire fences, grenades and rockets.
The figure "Love always wins" shows the angelic Cupid as he takes a look at today's world. A world full of technology, in which people are so firmly glued to their screens that a conventional arrow is not enough to tear them loose and make them accessible for love and hope. Instead, Cupid brings out the big guns, holding a grenade with "Love" written on it in his hand, to send the message that love always wins.
The "Love not war" cupid holds a rocket in his hands that has just broken in two. The sad expression on his face suggests that the breakage is rather due to an accidental mishap caused by the messenger of love with the power of love, which is worlds greater than that of war and suffering. Thus, love has triumphed and the missile can now cause neither destruction nor pain.
The Cupid figure "Love over hate" is brimming with fierce determination. With a pair of wire cutters in his hands, Cupid here pursues the mission of freeing a heart from the clutches of a barbed wire. An act of love over hate, which clearly shows that love knows no boundaries and cannot be conquered.
Magnus Gjoen's reinterpretation of The Ambassadors for Love, Peace and Togetherness thus tells a story in three stand-alone acts that could not be more beautiful and follows a clear main motif: Love conquers all. Despite the clear motif, which unites the current zeitgeist with the traditional figures, the messages behind the chubby-cheeked angel figures leave plenty of room for interpretation.
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