Enrique Perezalba Red (b. 1972)

A paradox of cultural, historical and stylistic references, this work is a nod towards Chinese blanc-de-chine pieces, specifically, referencing Guanyin, the Buddhist figure personifying both kindness and compassion. Whilst the present example is comparable to 17th and 18th century blanc-de-chine Guanyin figures, it defies the typical serenity of Guanyin by depicting Mickey Mouse as the subject with the head tilted back and the hands covering the face, a posture more typically associated in Western cultures with shame or embarrassment. The artist's intention with this work is to evoke images and ideas through the imaginary outside of their original context.