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THE GETTY MUSEUM DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

APRIL 21 - 22, 2017

EXHIBITED AT THE GETTY

MONDAY APRIL 24, 2017

Thirty-four hour challenge to create a Costume and Set inspired by Rembrandt's painting The Abduction of Europa (1632).

Location: The Getty Museum Heracleum

Materials: Paper, Paints, Glue

Team OVID: Marisa Melideo (Costume Designer), Naomi Gonzalez Kahn (Costume Designer), Liz Sherrier (Set Designer), Hakan Yoruk (Set Designer)

Our Material:

Tracing Paper: Dress - Hand Pleated, Wave - Crumbled

Coffee Filters: Saffron Flowers and Stems

Texture Paint: Boy and Dress

Inspiration:

Europa was seduced by the god Jupiter in the form of a bull, who breathed from his mouth a Saffron Crocus and carried her away to Crete on his back.

We chose to represent the moment when Europa is trying to get back on shore after Jupiter has abducted her. The motion of a wave is pulling her back and her skirts and the wind are sweeping her her away while she struggles to pull free. But all is futile as the next wave curls up behind her to envelope her and drag her to sea. Saffron flowers (the Jupiter's charm) still hangs about her skirts and lingers in the waves.

On land the blue and orange reflection of her companions can be seen.

The Abduction of Europa Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1632

Oil on single oak panel

25 7/16 x 31 in.

In the Metamorphoses, the ancient Roman poet Ovid told a story about the god Jupiter, who disguised himself as a white bull in order to seduce the princess Europa away from her companions and carry her across the sea to the distant land that would bear her name.

During his long career Rembrandt rarely painted mythological subjects. Here he conveys a narrative story through dramatic gesture and visual effects. Bewildered, Europa grasps the bull's horn, digs her fingers into his neck, and turns back to look at her companions on the water's edge. One young woman falls to the ground and raises her arms in alarm, dropping the flower garland intended for the bull's neck into her lap, while her friend clasps her hands in consternation and watches helplessly. The carriage driver above rises to his feet and stares at the departing princess in horror. In the background, a city shrouded in mist extends along the horizon, perhaps serving as an allusion to the ancient city of Tyre as well as to contemporary Amsterdam.The dark thicket of trees to the right contrasts with the pink and blue regions of the sea and sky. Sunlight breaks through the clouds and reflects off the water, but the sky behind the trees is dark and foreboding.

A master of visual effects, Rembrandt took pleasure in describing the varied textures of sumptuous costumes and glittering gold highlights on the carriage and dresses.