Heaven

The traditional religious images of gods, saints, angels and devils, of rituals, devotional articles, altars and places of worship have survived in our secularised world. But today, religion takes on a guise more in tune with the times. The longing for religiosity has been camouflaged so as to survive in the postmodern world. The cult of rock stars and the trade in fan articles is similar to the cult of saints and the trade in their relics. Figures like Elvis Presley, Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe have become icons of our culture because they have acquired a religious aura. Our new places of worship are museums, the graves of famous people, football stadiums or tennis courts. Paradise can be found in tourist resorts on southern beaches, in leisure parks and in shopping centres. This book uses the work of 35 international artists to illuminate the hidden structures of a contemporary religious energy. The religious aspects of fashion are explored through the work of couturiers such as Thierry Mugler, Majida Khattari and Viktor & Rolf. (German edition available 3-89322-986-8) The artists: Sylvie Blocher, Jessica Diamond, Sylvie Fleury, Katja Kloft, Jeff Koons, Inez van Lamsweerde, Justen Ladda, Mariko Mori, Shirin Neshat, Orlan, Tony Oursler, Ed Ruscha, Jeffrey Shaw, Haim Steinbach, a. o.