Elsa

Elsa is an artwork representing lust in the Moor’s series of heads titled “The Seven Deadly Sins.” The name of the Moor’s head represented as a “bunny” could only be Elsa, in reference to the famous model immortalized by Helmut Newton in the iconic photo for Playboy. The seductive expression of the large blue eyes glimpsed through the mask combines with the captivating pose of the tongue. The turban, although completely decontextualized, becomes one with the distinctive detail of the “bunny” ears, while still clearly maintaining its nature as a Moorish head with the typical decoration of Sicilian majolica. Despite the transgression, this artwork does not fall into vulgarity. On the contrary, the playful crown resting on one of the ears, as if about to slip off, gives it a touch of lightness and irony. Through the fusion of these elements, the artwork invites the viewer to consider how a classic Sicilian Moor’s head can be reborn in contemporary times with ironic and engaging provocation.