This interesting juxtaposition by Alex Guofeng Cao posits a seated Pamela Anderson, originally shot by American photographer Sante Dorazio, with the oil painting L’Origin du Monde by 19th century artist Courbet. Courbet’s image was highly erotic for the time and still is; his painting depicts a woman naked with her legs spread as she lies on a bed. Both of these women, painted and photographed nearly 100 years apart, open their legs to reveal the portal where all human life begins- l’origin du monde.
About the artist:
Originally from China, Alex Guofeng Cao is an established photographer now based in New York. He credits photography greats such as Avedon, Weston, and Mapplethorpe for inciting his passion for photography and artistic experimentation.
His preferred medium is black-and-white, saying that it is only the colors of this spectrum that he needs to create his world. With exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world, Cao’s work has quickly resonated within the collecting world.
By juxtaposing two iconic images, Cao encodes greater meaning into familiar images of pop icons and masterworks. Cao has exhibited at prestigious shows such as Art Basel in both Switzerland and Miami Beach; Scope Basel and Scope Miami, ArtHamptons and more. His work has also been featured in prominent publications such as the LA Times, Haute Living, the Boston Herald, Art in America, The Miami Herald, and more.
