Marilyn Monroe was only 36 years old when she died and the circumstances surrounding her death are still unclear. It is a mystery to this day  whether she was murdered or committed suicide. In 1972, on the tenth anniversary of her passing, the newspapers, magazines and photo journals were full of Monroe pictures and Blanquart White was struck by these.

At that time, she’d moved to Geneva and had been an artist and cosmopolitan for many years. “I found myself in a difficult situation with three small children.” She doesn’t know exactly why she began to cut out and collect Monroe pictures back then. However, at some point, she started collecting them and then made collages out of the many thousands of pictures. By cutting, sticking and shaping, she framed tributes to the 1960s sex symbol. Her work is a way of continuously showcasing Monroe’s role. Titles like Belle et Tais-toi or To Bed Not to Bed express these sentiments. “Monroe slowly started to represent my colour palette, my colours, my brush, my black and white. She took on her own form,” says the Englishwoman. For a limited period of time, Blanquart White’s beautiful collages, colourful designs and illustrated poems are on show at the Atelier Buch und Bild in Gstaad. Joanna Blanquart White’s work is also on sale.

Justine Hewson / AvS

Atelier Buch und Bild
Kirchstrasse 7, Gstaad
Tue-Fri 2pm-6pm
Sat 10am-4pm