Image via Complex Original
Yesterday, Miley Cyrus released her new video for "We Can't Stop," and it confused a lot of people. When did she become obsessed with twerking and taxidermy? How does one acquire a purple swimming pool? Why are fingers being spliced off (and bleeding pink paint), and why does the piñata at her party have sausages and pancakes coming out of it?
The answer is simple: ART. We have a feeling that Miley Cyrus' director, Diane Martel, was at least a little bit inspired by Ryan McGinley, Barbara Kruger, Guy Bourdin, and even the human barbie, Valeria Lukyanova.
Maybe you were a bit distracted by her tight white outfit, but these side-by-side comparisons will bring your attention to the details that lowkey made the video what it really is—an amalgamation of scenes directly inspired by famous works of modern and contemporary art.
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Art Pieces That Inspired Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" Video
Ryan McGinley, Taylor (Rushing River), 2011
(left) Ryan McGinley, Taylor (Rushing River), 2011
[via RyanMcGinley]
Ryan McGinley, Falling Pink Sunset, 2006
(left) Ryan McGinley, Falling Pink Sunset, 2006
[via RyanMcGinley]
Roy Lichtenstein, Stepping Out, 1978 and Terry Richardson
(top left) Roy Lichtenstein, Stepping Out, 1978
(bottom left) Photograph of Sky Ferreira by Terry Richardson, 2012
[via TheMet / TerrysDiary]
Ryan McGinley, Running Fireworks, 2007
(left) Ryan McGinley, Running Fireworks, 2007
[via RyanMcGinley]
Guy Bourdin, Untitled, 1980 and David LaChapelle, Still Life: Mikhail Gorbachev, 2009
(top left) Guy Bourdin, Untitled, 1980
(bottom left) David LaChapelle, Still Life: Mikhail Gorbachev, 2009
[via Elle / Artinfo]
Jenny Holzer, Blue Cross, 2008
(left) Jenny Holzer, Blue Cross, 2008
[via Yatzer]
Cai Guo-Qiang, Heritage 2013, 2013 and Cai Guo-Qiang, Head On, 2006
(top left) Cai Guo-Qiang, Head On, 2006
(bottom left) Cai Guo-Qiang, Heritage 2013, 2013
[via Complex]
Claes Oldenburg, Pancakes and Sausauges, 1962 and Tom Friedman, Untitled (White Bread), 2013
(top left) Claes Oldenburg, Pancakes and Sausauges, 1962
(bottom left) Tom Friedman, Untitled (White Bread), 2013
[via Christie's / Artsy]
Valeria Lukyanova
(left) Valeria Lukyanova (also known as Human Barbie) with Barbie
[via FemaleMag]
Big Baby Gandhi, NO1 2 LOOK UP 2 mixtape, 2012
(left) Big Baby Gandhi, NO1 2 LOOK UP 2 mixtape, 2012
[via TheFader]
Barbara Kruger, I Can't Look at You and Breathe at the Same Time, 1981-84
(left) Barbara Kruger, I Can't Look at You and Breathe at the Same Time, 1981-84
[via ArtinAmerica]
