Anita Taylor, Irene Barberis and Helen Sturgess, Portraiture in Focus
March 23rd - April 21st, Exhibition opening event Saturday March 23, 2-4pm
The three artists in the current exhibition, Portraiture in Focus all investigate the portrait. All are women who have been making art over a lengthy period and all have worked at some stage on portraits and the self.
Irene Barberis in this exhibition portrays herself confronting herself with a book in one hand and long brushes [sword-like] in the other; cavalier one could say, or perhaps she throws the question at us – “what actually is self?” Alongside the life size self portrait laser cut-outs, are a series of sensitive and direct works of her artist friends and family drawn and painted from life over many years. Each work has a textual story written of it underscoring the way she understands the open-endedness of all art process, no matter how conventional it seems.
Anita Taylor's large-scale drawings explore the nature and relationship of the female subject from the perspective of both artist and model. Through the encounter and act of drawing, the nature of self-representation and identity is explored, and the resultant portrayal becomes a description or disclosure of an inherent paradox as a mind reveals the form it inhabits.
Helen Sturgess’ works utilizes a broad range of media from bronze to plasticine, to watercolour. She weaves together storytelling, memory and history both personal and collective, combining traditional and contemporary practices. Sturgess transforms the material and objects into a reflection of the self’s internal landscapes, exploring psychological terrain through drawing, sculpture and installation.
Irene Barberis in this exhibition portrays herself confronting herself with a book in one hand and long brushes [sword-like] in the other; cavalier one could say, or perhaps she throws the question at us – “what actually is self?” Alongside the life size self portrait laser cut-outs, are a series of sensitive and direct works of her artist friends and family drawn and painted from life over many years. Each work has a textual story written of it underscoring the way she understands the open-endedness of all art process, no matter how conventional it seems.
Anita Taylor's large-scale drawings explore the nature and relationship of the female subject from the perspective of both artist and model. Through the encounter and act of drawing, the nature of self-representation and identity is explored, and the resultant portrayal becomes a description or disclosure of an inherent paradox as a mind reveals the form it inhabits.
Helen Sturgess’ works utilizes a broad range of media from bronze to plasticine, to watercolour. She weaves together storytelling, memory and history both personal and collective, combining traditional and contemporary practices. Sturgess transforms the material and objects into a reflection of the self’s internal landscapes, exploring psychological terrain through drawing, sculpture and installation.
Anita Taylor
Seeing Something Else 1993 charcoal on paper 76 x 56 cm |
Anita Taylor
Glance 2012 charcoal on paper 210 x 156cm |
Anita Taylor
Narcoleptic 2004 charcoal on paper 38 x 28cm |
Anita Taylor
Vestiges 2012 charcoal on paper 210 x 156cm |
Anita Taylor
Glance, 2004 charcoal on paper 38 x 28cm |
Anita Taylor
Vestiges 2012 charcoal on paper 210 x 156cm |
Irene Barberis
Albert Tucker /Artist 1991 Charcoal on Paper 57cm x 77cm |
Irene Barberis
Self Portrait 2013, 2013 Graphite on Arches paper 76cm x 107cm |
Irene Barberis
Self Portrait millennium night -2am, 1.1.2000, 2000 Ink on paper 56 x 76cm |
Irene Barberis
Gary Catalano/Poet 2002 Acrylic paint on Card 112 x 77cm |
Irene Barberis
Self Portrait; facing oneself 2013, 2013 Digital image. Variable Scale |
Helen Sturgess
Vulnerable Pink 2012 pencil and watercolour on paper 50 x 37.5cm |
Helen Sturgess
Medusa 2013 plasticine on Arches paper 114 x 101cm |
Helen Sturgess
Magnolia Venus No. 3 of 4 2009 mezzotint and tape on paper 26.5 x 30.5cm |
Helen Sturgess
Of Two Minds (left and right hand drawing) 2013 ink on paper 28 x 39cm |
Helen Sturgess
Non-fruiting Body 2013 iron oxide and watercolour on Arches paper 114 x 100cm |
Helen Sturgess
Becoming Mr. Squiggle, 2012 pencil on paper 76 x 54 cm |
