EASY RISE
Take a plunge into the divine comedy of Johnny Romeo’s Easy Rise. Brimming with tongue-in-cheek humour, Romeo reappropriates Botticelli’s classic Birth of Venus (1484-1486) as a pragmatic goddess for the postmodern era. With his signature wit and playful take on mythology, Romeo poses a clever question: how could Venus have possibly emerged from the sea without a scuba mask to help her breathe? Traditionally seen as the embodiment of beauty and the rebirth of civilization, Romeo’s Venus rises from the ocean’s depths with fresh energy, no longer nude, but confidently adorned with a scuba mask, ready to conquer the waves rather than be swept away by them. The naturalistic tones of Venus’ hair blends organically with her gear, signalling a seamless merging of myth and modernity. Inspired by the practical realities of being a modern woman, this Kitsch Pop goddess of love does not just arrive, she adapts and thrives. While her face is now framed by a scuba mask, Venus’ beauty remains as captivating as ever, her serene expression reflecting the empowerment of an ancient deity finally being able to claim her own sexuality and identity on her own terms, away from the prying eyes of the male gaze. Read in this light, the word assemblage ‘New Wave’ represents a new wave in how society views women, where they are given the freedom to breathe and be themselves outside the constraints of antiquated gender norms and beauty standards. Romeo takes this one step further with the passage ‘New Brave’, retaining the iconic youth and ethereal radiance of Venus, while reshaping her narrative into one of autonomy, resilience and contemporary relevance. Paired together with Teen Wonder, the painting becomes part of a Renaissance revival, where goddesses and statues rise anew, still young, but infinitely more powerful.