This exhibition explores the varied approaches to portraiture, from traditional to non-figurative and informal approaches to the genre. The exhibition features artists Donna Davis, Ryan Fraser, Nic Plowman, Leanne Sauer, Kaye Stuart, Bianca Beetson, Michael Cook, Julie Fragar, Oscar Fristrom, Karla Marchesi, Leonard Shillam, William Platz and Nan Paterson.
Historically portraiture has focused on capturing what is considered ‘real’ about a subject. Traditional portraits often represent the subject’s habits, hobbies or occupation through a collection of props elsewhere in the image.
Non-traditional portraiture challenges the assumptions about the relationship of identity to appearance. These portraits are less concerned with true likeness and focus on personal stories, relationship between artist and sitter and the many faceted and sometimes contradictory nature of identity.
Contemporary portraiture can also concern itself with multiple bodies, identities and motifs. In this way individual stories turn into universal ones and a broader statement can be made about the representation of human experience, emotion and history.
Official Opening
11.30am Saturday 23 July 2016
Artist Panel Discussion: A conversation about Portraiture
12.45pm Saturday 23 July 2016
Join a panel of the artists exhibiting as they discuss the various aspects of portraiture including its history, the self as subject, non traditional vs traditional portraiture, and the relationship between the artist and he sitter. Panel members include Karike Ashworth, Bill Platz and Donna Davis.
Image: Karla Marchesi
