Madonnas of Modernity - By Stanislav Plutenko

The three Madonnas depicts the tectonic shift in the western world’s values. This is a very serious and philosophical subject matter, but the artist conveys his message in a subtle and humorous way.

The first woman values affluence above anything else. Historically, wealth was embodied in precious stones and metals. However, the wealth that she has strived for and accumulated – paper cash and the designer Hermes Birkin bag have no intrinsic value.

The second woman, instead of cherishing ancient sources of knowledge and truth, such as books, scriptures, or eternal carvings in stone is holding an I-pad. The I-pad symbolizes the ever-changing and seemingly unreliable stream of information.

The last Madonna substituted love and care for human children with adoration for her high-bred and (often inbred) status dogs. This woman symbolizes the retreat from the traditional role of motherhood for many women in our capitalistic/democratic societies.