"LEDA" Gallery

Part 1. Leda in art from Leonardo to Björk

In Greek mythology, Leda was the wife of the king of Sparta.
She was admired by Zeus, who seduced her in the guise of a swan. As a swan, Zeus fell into her arms in search for protection from a pursuing eagle.
Their consummation, on the same night as Leda laid with her husband Tyndareus, resulted in two eggs from which hatched Helen — later known as the beautiful "Helen of Troy".

Source: Wikipedia

Photo selection: Lena Lafaki

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2. My Leda

Using the Leda character I have created an interpretation around the theme of a woman's femininity and the phases of life. My Leda is sarcastic and humoristic at the same time.

 

 

  

   

 

 

 

 

  

   "Leda with Lobster"     2011     120 x 80cm     oil on linnen

     This is a very romantic Leda, she is a dreamer, maybe an idealist but a gourmand too - she prepares her swan with lobster.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Loleda"     2011     120 x 80cm     oil on linnen

    She is still a girl with pale skin but her connection with purity and childhood has already been severed

    like an umbilical cord. She is still playing with her stuffed bird but her future looms overhead: sweet like a cotton candy

    and beautiful like a pheasant.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Three Graces"      2011     120 x 120cm     oil on linnen

    They are happy and powerful. They keep everything under control.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "NeoLeda"     2011     120 x 80cm     oil on linnen

    New times, new styles, new ideals. This Leda has exchanged her swan for a more modern version. Genetically it is not a giant

    leap from people to pigs. Pigs are very intelligent and our anatomy is almost identical.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Vive la Vie"      2011     120 x 80cm     oil on linnen

    In spite of everything life just goes on. Leda discovers new eggs all of the time. Surprise, surprise!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Her Swan Song"      2011     120 x 80cm     oil on linnen

    Degeneration sets in. The only things left over are memories. Her ephemeral swan is the cloud, whereas her real swan is the plastic chamber-pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 3. Leda's faces, feet and clouds

Series of selected close-ups.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 4. Preparatory work - searching for the right character

Series of sketches from life models.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Martin Alberts