Kills & Kisses. Bond Girls: Xenia Onatopp

The works are presented in the visual language of the religious iconographic traditions of Byzantium and ancient Russia. In 21st century western society film characters often become modern icons attracting an army of “new worshippers”. The cult of celebrity has usurped religious belief, saints are no longer idolized, a new set of icons has emerged - perfect in their fulfilment of their own aspirations. Whereas Sunday church services were once a feature of cultural life now many cannot imagine a bank holiday without the re-run of a Bond film.

Just as in Byzantine iconography, where each colour has its own value and meaning, so is there a layering of symbolism within these works. The gold painted background represents both the neither here nor there of a nightless eternity and Jill Masterton’s death by gold paint in Goldfinger. Indeed Gold is a continuing theme throughout the Bond world. Red is widely recognized as the colour of courage and sacrifice, in Christianity it is the liturgical color for the feast of martyrs, representing the blood of those who suffered death for their faith.

To highlight the iconic status of the characters their facial features have been removed. Despite their removal one can still recognise each incarnation of Bond and each Bond Girl. Defacing also serves to transfer the focus from the individual on to the qualities that capture the zeitgeist of their time such as changes in fashion and physique.

The Bond franchise shows no sign of decline, it continues to adapt and reflect the changes within society, holding a mirror up to our world and reflecting back the ideal….with a gold background. There will be more Bonds and he will be accompanied by more girls…

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