[B]What do you get when you cross Michelangelo and Nintendo? You get the Death of Mario, courtesy of artist Kordian Lewandowski.[/B]

Michelangelo created his original, called La Pieta, in 1499 and depicts the lifeless body of Jesus in the lap of the Mother Mary. The sculpture now resides at the Vatican. Kordian's sculpture, done in polystyrene foam and called Game Over, shows Mario dying in the arms of princess Peach.

The art can be found on the artist's [URL=http://kordianl.deviantart.com/art/Pieta-quot-Game-Over-quot-151872899]Deviant Art page[/URL]. Other pictures are on display at the [URL=http://wielkiartysta.pl/content/index.html]artist's personal site[/URL], showing how he created the life-size sculpture (click on the image of the sculture, then go to photos). A few shots show the actual creation process.

From a commenatry at the [URL=http://www.forevergeek.com/2010/03/mario_bros_la_piet_sculpture/]ForeverGeek blog[/URL]:

[INDENT]While La Pietà is based on a religious icon, it still is a masterpiece done by one of the biggest artist to have lived on earth. And Kordian’s piece reminded me that we live in a age where everything revolves around technology and the old art form is slowing dying out. Now a days we appreciate the art of an iPhone design or the new iPad, I never anymore come across a recent painting or sculpture that has potential to survive centuries.[/INDENT] Some may call it sacriligious, but I find it clever and interesting. The piece was originally done in 2008, and it's a shame I haven't seen it sooner.

[url=http://www.gameculture.com/2010/03/29/death-mario]More...[/url]