Golden Button by Alina Khozhan
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic, golden leaf, oil on canvas
Dimensions: 20 x 20 cm
Year: 2023
Price: $335.00 USD
Status: available
In a parody of the painting "Golden Adele", the main character is replaced by a Chihuahua named Businka, who is depicted in tones of gold and luxury. She occupies a central place in the picture, like the original heroine, and her look is filled with expressiveness and grandeur. A parody of "Golden Adele" with a chihuahua as the main character symbolizes an ironic attitude towards the concept of luxury and sophistication. Instead of the usual image of an aristocratic beauty, we see a small dog, which creates contrast and makes the viewer smile. It is a commentary on art and culture, emphasizing that beauty and greatness can be found not only in external splendor, but also in unexpected and unusual forms. The implication of the parody is the idea that true beauty and greatness do not depend on social status or external attributes, but are found within each of us. The artist plays with the idea that true greatness can be found in small things and unexpected places. In addition, the parody offers a new perspective on traditional images in art and emphasizes that beauty can manifest itself in different forms and manifestations. The choice of a dog as the main character in the parody of “The Golden Adele” is not accidental. This choice has several connotations and symbolic meanings. Firstly, a dog, especially a Chihuahua, is often associated with luxury and sophistication, which enhances the irony and contrast with the original image of an aristocratic lady. Secondly, dogs are often seen as symbols of loyalty and devotion, which adds a new dimension to the interpretation of the painting and its meaning. So the choice of dog in this context plays on many levels, adding depth and interest to the parody.
Why collect this work?
A small white Chihuahua is nearly absorbed by an ornate gold setting, turning portrait grandeur into a visual contest between individual presence and decorative display.
- Khozhan’s profile describes dogs as a recurring subject connected to compassion and social awareness. Here, however, the artist-reported parody of “Golden Adele” directs that concern toward status, luxury and the conventions of portraiture.
- The photographed composition divides sharply: a broad, relatively open gold field occupies the left, while the dog is compressed into dense patterning on the right. Its dark eyes and pale head remain legible as the body merges with repeated eyes, spirals and geometric marks.
- The documented combination of acrylic, oil and gold leaf makes possible a contrast between painted figuration and reflective metallic material. At 20 by 20 centimetres, the format miniaturizes the scale associated with ceremonial portraiture.
- Encountered as a reworking of an established portrait type, Golden Button tests how readily ornamental codes can confer distinction on an unconventional sitter, while leaving open whether the dog is dignified by luxury or concealed within it.
About the Artist
Alina Khozhan
Alina Khozhan is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Nationality: Kazakh
I explores social issues and the emotional depth of human experience through my artworks.
