God's Bride 2015

Babak-Matveev made this 200 by 147-centimetre artwork, God's Bride, in 2014. The photograph depicts an elderly woman, adorned with a flower crown and halo, set against a backdrop of red and green lights. The image seems to play with traditional religious iconography by placing an ordinary, aging body in the role of a saintly figure. It challenges conventional beauty standards, particularly within religious art, where idealized forms often dominate. This piece was produced during a time when photographic media became more democratic due to social media. Images like this can invite discussions around the representation of women, the elderly, and the human body within both art and wider society. Historians might explore the cultural significance of religious symbols, or study sociological analyses of representation in the media to better contextualize this work. Ultimately, it serves as a potent reminder that art is deeply interwoven with its social and institutional moment.