Secret Identity, an ongoing series of photorealistic paintings of plastic superhero models enclosed in plastic bags, visually highlights what Simon Monk sees as a major contradiction: the iconic power of these mythic figures versus their roles as purchased objects — a situation that he says is similar to the plight of the artist. “My painting process is pretty painstaking as the images are built up from many transparent layers to give them the luminosity that I want,” he recently explained to My Modern Met. “The plastic bags start with barely visible glazes of white and are very gradually built up until I feel that they work visually. Each painting takes at least three months to complete.” Click through to check out the amazing end results.
Simon Monk, Peter Parker, 2011. Oil & alkyd on wood. 60x50cm
Simon Monk, Clark Kent, 2011. Oil & alkyd on wood. 60x50cm
Simon Monk, Dr. Bruce Banner, 2011. Oil & alkyd on wood. 60x50cm
Simon Monk, Dr. Donald Blake, 2011. Oil & alkyd on wood. 60x50cm
Simon Monk, Steve Rogers, 2011. Oil & alkyd on wood. 60x50cm
[via Coudal Partners]