Mao Splash – 3D

The gallery's
opinion

“Mao Splash – 3D” is a contemporary painting with 3D effect by the painter and multimedia artist Dominique Mulhem.

THE TECHNIQUE
Dominique Mulhem’s holopaintings are based on the technique of lenticular holography. Mulhem was one of the first artists to use this technique in the 1970s. Thus he is considered one of the pioneers of holography and the first multimedia artist.

Also the result of the artistic approach of Dominique Mulhem, allows our eye to perceive a 3D effect. Indeed one distinguishes very clearly planes more or less distant. Moreover, the attitude of the visitors of the art gallery is revealing in this respect. They apply themselves to observe the thickness of the work. Like a box which would contain objects arranged one behind the other. Sometimes the children, deceived by the optical illusion, approach their hands. They try to capture the elements represented in the foreground.

It is neither painting, nor sculpture, nor photography, nor digital art, but rather all at once, it is holopainting.

THE WORK

In “Mao Splash – 3D” , Mao is represented by a moulded plastic figurine, like the toys or souvenirs mass-produced in Chinese factories. Before Mulhem, American Pop Art artists such as Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein made him an object of consumption, putting the founder of the People’s Republic of China at the service of the capitalist product.

In Dominique Mulhem’s work, the figure representing Mao is threatened by sprays of paint. What will remain of the red of the Chinese communist icon?

The double frame, with a rod covered with a smoked mirror lacquer, contributes to sublimate this very beautiful piece.