Cop a gander of Madonna!
The Queen of Pop has been trending for the length and breadth of her legendary career, so it was little surprise that she sent timelines into a frenzy yesterday with the announcement of ‘The Celebration Tour.’
Set to kick off this Summer, the global trek sees the superstar toast 40 years on top.
To further trumpet news of the must-see extravaganza, the 64-year-old covers the European edition of Vanity Fair‘s Icon Issue.
The diva’s penchant for stirring up controversy clearly is intact, as she once again draws on religious imagery – specifically The Last Supper – centering herself as the nucleus figure.
In the accompanying interview, the singer talks her illustrious career, humble beginnings, and her take on religion.
More from her Madgesty after the jump…
On Depicting Recreating Last Supper With Women:
“It was a suggestion from Luigi & Iango and I thought it was a very interesting point of view, a way of instilling a all-female energy in a world traditionally imagined and represented only by men. So I turned the tables and I liked the idea of playing with a contradiction which was not a contradiction at all.” [Translated]
On Religion:
“I think it’s important to have a pattern of rituals and a spiritual life. But I also think that religion without understanding, without knowledge, without curiosity and inclusiveness cannot be considered religion. Religion is not joining an exclusive or extremist group. Religion is respecting other religions. Religion is encouraging people to understand what they believe and to study what they believe instead of adhering to a dogma which without study and understanding would be empty and sterile. My relationship with religion today? Cultivate my spiritual practices. Practices that apply to me and don’t have to apply to everyone. And I think everyone should do that because I find it important to pray and have a connection with the soul, with the spiritual force, call it what you will.” [Translated]
On Whether She’s Ever Felt Down & Out:
“Many times. And I don’t think it’s possible otherwise. I don’t think it’s possible to be an artist without feeling broken or hurt. You are a human being and so is life. There is no life without that feeling.” [Translated]
On Motherhood:
“It was the hardest thing, the toughest battle. It was perhaps the most complicated clown performance to handle. Even today, I struggle to understand how to be a mother and do my job. Because, however it goes, whoever you are, having children and raising children is a work of art. And nobody gives you a manual. You have to learn from your mistakes. It’s a job that takes a lot of time. And it’s tiring because there’s never rest.
The thing that makes me happiest is seeing how each of them has found their creativity. I never encouraged my daughter Lola to make music or my son Rocco to paint. But I’ve always exposed them to art, to music. I’m happy with how they are today. And I’m proud of their work.” [Translated]
On Her Tour & Future Plans:
“I am very excited by the challenges that are emerging in my future. I’m about to create a new show. And I have been working on the script for a film about my life for several years. It’s a good time because I gather ideas, get inspired, hang out with creative people, watch tons of movies, listen to music and I’ve become a social anthropologist. I look for inspiration wherever I go and wherever I can find it.” [Translated]
