Marilyn Monroe Belongings #8

There are few iconic personalities that have reached the level of undeniable fame matching that of Marilyn Monroe. She is a one-of-a-kind icon, both lauded and abused by Hollywood, the media and society.  Thomas Card had the unique opportunity, honor, and privilege to document and photograph many of her belongings prior to Christie’s auction. Through this process and his individual research, Card gained a unique perspective shared by few others. Now, these belongings are scattered around the globe, but Card’s insights remain intact.

 

When Card was first invited into the secret vault, he had no idea that inside housed Monroe’s personal belongings. Card was brought in with the task of recommending to the curators the style of photography that should be used to capture this unique collection and the responsibility of executing it. He proposed a documentary style with the intent of allowing the objects to tell the tragic and inspirational story of the misunderstood star. And so began Card’s adventure to tell Monroe’s story through the documentation of her belongings, enduring long days secluded in a vault, contemplating a life unmatched by others.

 

Card recalls that her possessions told the story of a person seeking out connections, forced to maintain a public façade very different from her own internal being.  He uncovered scripts hidden away in her possessions to help her navigate the press and fans alike. He examined the lip marks still residing on her favorite lipsticks, strands of her iconic hair still nestled in the bristles of her hairbrush, and cottonwood seeds still clinging to a pair of her jeans.  Card developed a deep respect for the person who was Marilyn Monroe and dedicated himself to presenting the artifacts at their very best. This collection is an awe-inspiring selection of some of Monroe’s most iconic and meaningful belongings captured brilliantly with a lens sensitive to Monroe’s humanity and dignity.

 

There are superstars, and then there is Marilyn. These are her simple belongings, the everyday things that give us a glimpse into the real life of Marilyn Monroe.

Thomas C. Card is an American artist based in New York. Card has always seen the world through the lens of art, questioning how to elevate the most simple and mundane aspects of life into their most aspirational state. And similarly, how to make the most fanciful and whimsical elements communicate their most profound meaning. Underlying Card’s work you will find mathematical formulas and symbolism that draw on scientific theories and art history alike.

 

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee and raised in Decatur, Illinois, Card rose out of the rough and tumble industrial environment through his achievements in art. Card’s work gained national attention even before graduating from high school, landing him a scholarship to the School of Art at Washington University in St. Louis. Within a short time after graduation, Card had already developed a reputation as a master printer working for top photographers in New York City. By the age of 23, his own work was published in international magazines.

 

Card’s large-scale landscape photographic collages, entitled “Alone Together,” form the central focus of his most theoretical work. With this work, Card uses the single image as a mark playing with repetition, sequencing, context, and tonal values to create complex layers of coded meaning. By repeating the print images in collage form, the role of the singular image changes, no longer solely functioning as an isolated representation but rather a part of a larger meaning. The image continues to convey a singular meaning, but enhanced by a contextual meaning, further enhanced through sequencing and finally through repetition. The form and pattern emerge with balance and assigned values, all referencing historical norms, while playing with new context and symbols.

 

Card’s first book and multi-media show, “Tokyo Adorned,” explores the expression of individuality and self through intimate studio portraits of Tokyo’s fashion tribe members. Work from this sold-out book has been seen in multiple shows across the country. Tokyo Adorned received high praise from major media outlets, and Card was interviewed repeatedly regarding his process and experiences surrounding the book and the show.

 

Card has been featured in numerous international publications including American, German and French Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, the London Sunday Times, Vogue Gioiello and the New York Times Magazine. His sense of beauty, wit, and whimsy permeates his style of storytelling and can been seen in his collaboration on numerous advertising campaigns including Gucci, Ferragamo, Issey Miyake, Baume & Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Apple and more.