(from "Modern Venus - A Context" by Edward Weiss)
When I started the Modern Venus series, my goal was to combine a modernist abstract compositional sense with the fervent representationalism of classic pin-up art. But, in one sense I wanted to make a break from the pin-up and other iconic art that dates back to the pre-historic Venus of Willendorf. Part of this tradition has idealized the figure by rearranging it in some sense - exaggerating or streamlining certain proportions. I deliberately haven't done this because I wanted to capture the way the eye seeks out the superhuman in the human. Rather than idealize the body, I wanted to reflect the powerful mystique that lurks in the commonplace.
So I set some ground rules for myself. No intentional anatomical distortion whatsoever. No depictions of surgical enhancements (i.e. silicone). And no violating the laws of physical reality, even with the invented stuff (no blue-skinned people or impossible perspectives, for instance.)
Everything else was fair game. I've added clothing to figures that was not worn by the original models; and invented furniture for compositional purposes. Colors have nothing to do with the original sources and rendering is (I hope) heightened. My goal is not realism, but that element of unreality that is available to the naked eye.