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The work of Maria Rivans is known for its mash up of surrealism meets pop art. Her scrapbook like collages with their 1950s pop culture references have all the playful delight of an early Paolozzi, mixed with the strange surreality of a Dali, and brought up to date with a certain sophistication and quirky aesthetic, unique to Rivans. ‘Good Dog’ was first released at the artrepublic Art Yard Sale on Sunday 5th June 2016, in which some of the biggest names in the contemporary art world came together in Brighton’s Jubilee Square, giving fans the chance to buy from the artists directly. ‘Good Dog’ depicts a 1950s image of a well dressed woman, stroking a white Alsatian. Her face in true surrealist fashion has been obscured by a large, pink disc, hand finished with glitter, that Rivans has pasted in the centre. In the middle of the disc stand a miniature 1950s man and woman who appear to be gesturing towards the dog. The collage is both playful and humorous, yet it retains an aesthetic quality that is both beautiful and compelling, as well as thoughtful and intelligent. The collage is finished with another strip of pink glitter at the bottom for a textured, iridescent effect.
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