In a captivating display blending art with pop culture, Lady Gaga visited The Louvre in Paris to film a daring promotional video for the museum’s upcoming exhibition, Figures of the Fool. Released on September 25, the video sees Lady Gaga in an unusual yet mesmerizing role where she faces Leonardo da Vinci’s revered Mona Lisa, leaving a whimsical lipstick mark on the protective glass shielding the portrait.
Lady Gaga’s video at The Louvre serves as a promotion for the new exhibition at the museum, slated to open next month. It also ties into Lady Gaga’s latest film role in Joker: Folie à Deux. In the film, Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn, known for her colorful and chaotic brand of mischief. Emulating this character, she donned a red wig and sang a song specifically composed for the occasion, navigating the Parisian museum’s corridors at night, ultimately coming face-to-face with the Mona Lisa. The climax of the video showcases Gaga painting a clownish smile on the glass, with a dramatic tear of black mascara enhancing the emotional impact.
This act of artistic expression mirrors a pivotal scene from the Joker movie, where Harley Quinn visits her partner in crime, adding layers of narrative depth to Lady Gaga’s performance in the video. The Louvre, understanding the potential concerns about promoting such gestures given recent activist attacks on artworks, clarified that the video was entirely fictional and served as an homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s fascination with enigmatic smiles.
Safety precautions were paramount during the shoot, with the museum revealing that an additional protective screen was installed in front of the already bulletproof glass that guards the iconic painting. This move ensured that the artwork remained untouched while allowing the pop star to engage freely in her performance.
The Louvre’s collaboration with Warner Bros Pictures, the powerhouse behind Joker: Folie à Deux, signifies a fusion of Hollywood glamour with historical art, illustrating the museum’s continued appeal as a cultural hub capable of bridging diverse audiences. Lady Gaga’s participation in the video at such a renowned venue underscores her multifaceted artistic persona and the ongoing dialogue between contemporary culture and classical art.
This event is part of a broader trend of celebrities engaging with famous artworks in innovative ways, as seen previously with Will.i.am’s 2016 video and Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Apeshit in 2018, where they used the museum as a backdrop to make significant cultural statements.
With Figures of the Fool set to open soon, the Louvre is once again at the forefront of discussions on how art is consumed and appreciated in the digital age, proving that art and entertainment can coexist in creative and thought-provoking ways.
With AFP
