Queen of Hearts

Medium: Silkscreen Paper Edition

Availability: Timed Release

The sale of this artwork commences at 12pm Tuesday 3rd May and ends in gallery & online at midnight Tuesday 10th May 2022.

Edition size will be determined by the number of orders received during this period.

About the Artwork

‘Queen of Hearts’ features a photograph of the Queen taken by Dorothy Wilding on the occasion of her coronation on June 2nd 1953, the first official photographic sitting for the young queen in her new role as monarch.

Seventy years later, standing as the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch in history, she is beloved by the British public, and an icon of our history.

Mr. Brainwash surrounds Her Majesty with symbols of British Cool, recognizing her skill at staying calm through some of the most difficult socio-political crises the country has ever faced.

As the longest-serving female head of state, she is pretty rock and roll!

Out of her gown emerge a pair of peony tattoos, a symbol of strength and bravery in traditional Japanese tattooing.

The colours of her sash, tattoos and lipstick match up with the colours of the spray-painted Union Jack behind her: they stand together as symbols of the United Kingdom.

On her sash, Mr. Brainwash has added a collection of pin badges, ranging from iconic British rock bands like The Who and The Rolling Stones, to the peace sign, to the classic Keep Calm ad Carry On: a perfect description of the Queen’s approach to rule. These pins are set alongside the star of the Order of the Garter, the most senior order of knighthood in the United Kingdom.

British identity is as much made up of our popular culture as it is the ancient order of chivalry. Just like the Platinum Jubilee, we are defined as much by our heritage and tradition, as we are by our creativity and innovation.