red velvet

Pic in Paris … Exhibition “Sex and Politics” …

… not my every day work … but very pleased to have a photographic piece on the wall in the important “Sex and Politics” exhibition in Paris France … opening this evening 13th November !

A couple of months ago I was invited to exhibit in the exhibition “Sex and Politics” by the folks at Art-Icon .. the amazing European crew that organised the giant epic “Faces/Visages” exhibition in Arles France, which included my piece “100 Years and 3 Weeks – Alf Neal OAM”, back in July.

The exhibition description supplied … “Sex and Politics” is a contemporary photography exhibition taking place in Paris from November 13–16, 2025, which coincides with Paris Photo. The show, located at the Bastille Design Center, explores how sexuality, desire, and power intersect in photography. It features artists whose work addresses themes like the political nature of sexuality, the body in culture, and digital intimacy. “Sex and Politics” explores the intersections of sexuality, representation, and power in contemporary photography. The exhibition features artists whose work engages the body, desire, and the cultural ideologies that shape them.

Fortunately I had one image that I felt fitted the bill … and Danila at Art-Icon agreed.

I made the photograph of delightful Cairns girl Bonn Marie a couple of years ago. The rationale was to revisit the impact that the “Red Velvet” images of infamous actress Marilyn Monroe back in 1949 made in a building a sexual revolution in the 50’s.

2022 marked the 60th anniversary of the death at 36 of Marilyn … the planet’s greatest ever sex symbol . There were countless photographs made of her during a far too short career as an actress and centre of massive unrelenting attention. What I aimed to portray was an image of ‘Marilyn’ in the vintage style of the mid last century when she infamously captivated audiences around the World. The image mirrors the work of US photographer Tom Kelley, who originally shot those infamous “Red Velvet” photographs before her acting career took off. Tom’s image didn’t receive much attention until Hugh Hefner selected it as the first centrefold in the very first edition of Playboy Magazine in 1953.

Marilyn Monroe’s Playboy centrefold was historically significant, influencing the portrayal and public acceptance of the female form in a ground breaking way, shattering norms and redefining the place of women in society. The image was a pivotal element in Playboy’s goal to define sex as a socially acceptable subject and provide a new outlet for female sexuality. . Kelley’s image played a key role in shaping 20th century history, spawning a new reality of female sexuality and a sexual revolution, whilst catapulting the subject of feminism into the political arena.  Female empowerment was on the march … 

Will be eternally grateful to Bonn for her stunning portrayal and interpretation of an historic photograph that changed so much … Massive Thanks, Bonn.

Also like to sincerely thanks Danila and Slavica from Art-Icon for inviting me to exhibit.

Vogue Magazine published a fascinating article on “Sex and Politics” and it may be found here … https://vogueadria.com/sex-and-politics-pariz/

Bottom image © Brian Cassey

Image "Marilyn Monroe - 60 Years on - by Bonn" - image by © Brian Cassey - part of the Art-Icon exhibition "Sex and Politics" at the Bastille Design Centre in Paris France November 2025
Image "Marilyn Monroe - 60 Years on - by Bonn" - image by © Brian Cassey - part of the Art-Icon exhibition "Sex and Politics" at the Bastille Design Centre in Paris France November 2025

Marilyn Monroe, Playboy Magazine … & Bonn …

… VERY much a departure from what I normally do … and for that matter … what I’ve ever done.

I admit … this image I produced may look somewhat ‘familiar’ to many of a certain ‘vintage’. However, I can assure you that it is brand new. The ‘polar opposite’ of photojournalism, documentary, reportage etc, it does, indeed, tell a timely story I wanted to tell.

The year 2022 marked the 60th anniversary of the death of arguably the planet’s greatest ever sex symbol … movie star and blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. She died at just 36 …

There were many thousands of photographs made of Marilyn (Norma Jeane) during her stellar but far too short career as an actress, model, sometimes singer … and undeniable centre of massive unrelenting attention.

What I aimed to portray in this work was a recreation of ‘Marilyn’ in the vintage style of the days of the mid last century when she captivated audiences around the World … and in Cairns character and model Bonn Marie I knew I had just the person to make that happen. (Bonn had previously featured in one of my works that gained a fair bit of International attention.)

In particular … this image I made of Bonn (below) mirrors one of the works of US photographer Tom Kelley who had the enviable task of shooting Marilyn’s infamous ‘red velvet’ set in 1949 before her acting career took off (when she had red hair pre the ‘blond bombshell’ era). Strangely Tom’s image didn’t receive lavish attention until Hugh Hefner selected it for the first centrefold in the first ever edition of Playboy Magazine in 1953 !

I still can’t get over the fantastic job that Bonn (aided by the mastery of make up artist Sue Kim) did in morphing into Marilyn’s character and look … the resemblance is chilling. Despite the fact that I didn’t attempt to copy the original pose in Tom’s work directly … the similarities in body shape, pose, style, expression and more are obvious. Bonn created a damn fine Marilyn …

A couple of little interesting asides about the original Kelley image. Originally … pre Playboy … Marilyn faced right to left in the frame. Hefner decided to reverse it in the magazine centrefold … and that’s the way I made the ‘tribute’ image with Bonn. As well as making Hefner’s new magazine a massive success, Kelley’s image … an image of tastefulness and sophistication … became truly historic, played a key role in shaping 20th century history, led to a redefinition of female sexuality in America and spawned a sexual revolution.

This is the first time ever I’ve ‘remade’ an earlier image by another photographer … and I’m damn sure it will also be the last … but I do hope you enjoy the resulting work, Bonn’s amazing ‘Marilyn’ portrayal and the rationale behind retelling a pivotal and timely part of the Monroe story.

This “Marilyn” – Bonn large framed work (below) is currently pride of place on the wall in the exhibition “Red Hot” (and available for sale) at the Kite Gallery in Cairns. The exhibition of great works runs until 16th January 2023 and is well worth checking out.

Image © Brian Cassey … with subject Bonn Marie and hair, makeup Sue Kim … (with Thanks and acknowledgement to photographer Tom Kelley)

Tribute to Marilyn Monroe sixty years after her untimely death in 1962 .... Image by Brian Cassey © (with Bonn Marie) based on the 1949 'Red sheet' work by photographer Tom Kelley which became Marilyn's and Playboy Magazines first ever cenrefold. in the magazine's first edition in 1953.