Britain's Queen Elizabeth shown as 21st century icon

By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - Chris Levine, the artist who in 2004 created an acclaimed holographic portrait of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, is back with a set of pictures selected from among the 8,000 or so he took at the original sittings.

But this time Levine, who describes himself as a light artist, has manipulated the pictures in a bid to do for the British monarch what Andy Warhol did for Marilyn Monroe.

"The emphasis is modernity. I am putting the Queen into the pop culture," Levine told Reuters as he set about mounting the pictures and accompanying laser light show on Tuesday.

Among the images that go on show to the public on Friday are one with the Queen's face erased, one showing just the back of her head and another with her eyes closed.

Levine said he was inspired by his muse Warhol, whose portraits of Monroe helped make her a 20th century icon.

"I want to do the same for the Queen in the 21st century," he said. "These images are done with real affection. There is no disrespect intended here.

"Showing the back of her head simply means she is in front, leading us," he added. "She has seen some of the images and was enthusiastic. I intend to send her a boxed set."

Buckingham Palace said the Queen was aware of the exhibition, but would not be commenting on it.