Almost four decades ago, legendary American artist Andy Warhol finished a close-up, blue-hued painting of the top half of a bottle of Absolut Vodka. When the artwork was rediscovered earlier this year, the brand celebrated with a limited-edition bottle, and now, they’re going one step further with a new exhibition dedicated to the Absolut ‘blue’ painting. Absolut Warhol: The Other Half invites five artists from across the UK to interpret what the bottom half of Warhol’s bottle would – or could – look like, with the resulting pieces displayed in a pop-up space at the Saatchi Gallery influenced by the master artist’s Silver Cloud Factory.
Among those involved in the showcase include movement and wellness-inspired Kelly Anna, Ken Nwadiogbu, who mixes hyperrealism with themes of identity and socio-political control, and digital storyteller Alexa Sirbu. Completing the five artists are Jade Pearl, whose work integrates fashion, art and well-being, and Xu Yang, who explores sexuality, body and identity via painting, photography and mixed media.