The Mickey Girl Painting

Culture Mix series in oil by Tanja Hirschfeld The German-Italian artist works intensively with masks and costumes from different cultures. Her research produced countless overlaps of otherwise disconnected elements of traditional clothing. This led to the creation of a series that joins different world cultures in one human being. The exotic, the unfamiliar and the familiar are merged to evoke affinity and dialogue. Along the lines of „all equal“ - a relevant political and at the same time emotional topic. It is important that the subject does not represent a flattened image or a parody of cultures but that it has a mystical and detached quality to induce the feeling of unease that we experience when facing the unknown. The Mickey Girl: USA / Netherlands / Germany / Italy / China The child-woman embodies the two global powers of China and the United States of America. Her fragile Asian face is crowned with a Mickey Mouse wig. The red cheeks and the mask underline the clownlike appearance. The neck is decorated with a ruff collar which on one hand reflects Dutch or Spanish dignitaries and on the other reminds us of the persiflage through the Italian Commedia dell‘ Arte. The colorful robe shows an Old German costume of the Sorbian Christ child, which is supposed to bring health and happiness. The multilayered Lolita character marries the aspects of power and innocence.