(born La Roche-sur-Yon in 1950/ Le Havre in 1953) “The dead song - marilyn manson”, 2004, unique example, chromogenic print, overpainted, 107 x 85 cm (125.5 x 103.5 cm with frame), (EK)

Exhibited: Pierre et Gilles, Le Grand Amour, 24 September - 18 November 2004 (catalogue), Galerie Jerôme de Noirmont, Paris
House of Photography, 21 February - 30 March 2007, Moscow Palais de Marbre du Musée Russe, 10 April - 20 May 2007 St. Petersburg
Musée du Jeu de Paume, 26 June - 23 September, 2007, Paris (here illustrated in catalogue)
Museum Folkwang, 2 July - 10 October 2010, Essen (here recorded in catalogue)

Pierre & Gilles, the high priests of kitsch, demonstrate their art by bringing together the dove of the Holy Spirit and the snake of the Tempter. This requires us to travel back a few thousand years, to a time in which the gods possessed a bit of malice and the demons a little goodness. The Greek gods were able to cause harm through their escapades and the demons could perform good deeds in a manner just as complex as that of mankind. Today we say evil can come out of something good, and the way to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning act of kindness occasionally causes hurt, while the shadow economy is sometimes beneficial, because necessary morality also has its own shortcomings and evil really has positive side-effects.
Odon Vallet
From: Pierre & Gilles, Göttliche Körper, Collection Rolf Heyne, 2006