REFLECTING THE IMAGE
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
REFLECTING THE IMAGE COLLECTION (2009 - 2011)
A collection influenced by historical portraiture, popular throughout human history, created with a contemporary twist in the crystal mosaic portraits which form a major part of this collection. Mosaic is an ancient art which has a rich history dating back to the third century BC. From the Greeks, Romans and Byzantine mosaics, to the Art Nouveau movement, it is now enjoying a welcome renaissance in the 21st Century. The crystal mosaic portraits partially reflect the viewer, making observer and observed integral to the work, a commentary on the culture of celebrity and the age of the selfie. This allusion is further enhanced by the informality of the close-cropped compositions. The works present an abstract quality, as a series of pointillist dots when viewed up close, which emerge as a coherent image as the viewer steps back. The crystal mosaic portrait commissioned by Rihanna of Marilyn Monroe (5ft x 5ft), was created with 65,000 hand-applied Swarovski Elements. It represents the separate yet entwined identities of public and private personas. The artwork hides a secret painted portrait of Norma Jeane on the reverse, whilst the crystal Marilyn Monroe, her famous alter ego stares out at the world. In the same way, the hidden portrait largely remained unobserved in all of the press coverage which was generated by the commission. The portrait of the Queen was created in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, with Swarovski Aurora Borealis special effects crystals. From certain angles a diamond effect is presented and from others a definitive red, white and blue appearance as the crystals change colour.
IMAGE INFORMATION:
Featured
10 000 hole punch dots. 23.6 x 23.6 inches (60 x 60cm)
Exhibited in Ripon Cathedral 2012
This portrait study is made up of thousands of individually hand placed paper dots in nine specified colours.