One doesn’t have to wear latex, enjoy the avant-garde, or even know iconic art all that much to have heard of British pop artist Allen Jones. His work, featured in various collections, from the Tate Museum in the UK to the Warwick Arts Centre, was seen as a standard for pop art of the 60s and 70s. As famous for his work as for turning down Stanely Kubrick when asked to design the Korova Milk Bar in “A Clockwork Orange,” art connoisseurs to culture critics have been dissecting the meaning of Jones’ pieces (objectification, the specifics of societal norms, the representation of women in society), especially after he gave the world his most famous work, a tribute to the form of fiberglass fetish mannequins called Hatstand, Chair and Table.
(If you are a regular reader of this blog, you might recall us reporting on Kylie Jenner donning the infamous Jones sculpture poses for a tribute Interview Magazine shot of her a few years ago.)
In the September issue of Perfect Magazine, multi-media artist Nadia Lee Cohen pays homage to Jones. Like Kylie, Cohen slips into bun-baring latex to re-enact/re-invent/re-imagine Jones’ most famous piece, as she also shows Jones’ Korona Milk Bar waitress costume that was not used in Kubrick’s film.
The story of Kubrick and Jones is that the famous director contacted the artist hoping Jones could create similar sculptures to Hatstand, Chair and Table for “A Clockwork Orange”’s famous Korona Milk Bar environs. Kubrick offered no payment though, so Jones turned the great director down. He permitted Kubrick to use his concepts and sculptures to influence the set and scene though, which they surely do.
(Have a little look-see, my little droogs: “Clockwork Orange” – Alex at the Korova Milk-Bar (youtube.com)
The story of Nadia Lee Cohen is that she is quite the singular artist herself. As much a photographer, filmmaker, and model, the young British artist cites all kinds of inspiration and influences which she takes and reforms and morphs into the pieces she shows as magazine covers, videos, and posts.
It’s no surprise she has taken to Jones and has had some fun seeing what she could make of his art.
Jones’ Perfect Magazine can be found here.
