The painted picture of Marilyn is borrowed from (The Last Sitting) of topless Marilyn Monroe, taken by Photographer Bert Stern just six weeks before her death. She is pictured playing with a see-through scarf. I had always wanted to paint this one but was searching for the right context.
The Unbearable Lightness of being written by Milan Kundera is a philosophical novel depicting the intellectual life in the Czechoslovak Communist period in 1968. In 1988, an American-made film adaptation of the novel was released.
Irrespective of what the novel or the film is about, one of the impressions I had of it, is about living carelessly, irresponsibly and sarcastically. The appearances of Leisure and pleasure of the characters in this work and their playful mood are only cover of the bitter and cynical souls behind. The resin figurine in this painting is created by Milo Manara, the Italian comic book writer and artist. I used a found snap shot of an anonymous girl at the bottom part of the painting because I found in her casual and unpretentious relaxed posture, a matching expression to the lightness of being.