Marcel Mariën
Le vol nuptial (The Bridal Flight), 1969
Signed 'Mariën', titled 'le vol nuptial' and dated '1969' (lower right)
Assemblage
26 by 51.5 by 11.5 cm (10¼ by 20¼ by 4½ in.)
69360
Executed in 1969. Inspired by the surreal compositions of René Magritte, Marcel Märien creates enigmatic combinations of image and text. In this example, he depicts a single artificial rose accented...
Executed in 1969. Inspired by the surreal compositions of René Magritte, Marcel Märien creates enigmatic combinations of image and text. In this example, he depicts a single artificial rose accented with a gold safety pin mounted to a crimson backing, and set within a frame fronted with glass. Märien’s depiction pays homage to Magritte as the rose was a recurring motif in his oeuvre, juxtaposing the delicate form of the flower with its sharp thorns. In Le vol nuptial, Märien adds a playful twist by including a silk flower and safety pin to symbolize a thorn.
This practice of framing found objects, recontextualizing them as works of art, and modifying their original function and meaning, recalls André Breton’s “poème-objet” constructions of the 1930s and 1940s, Marcel Duchamp’s iconic readymades, and Man Ray's similarly playful and irreverent objects.