ROZI DEMANT
2012
26 September- 20 October 2012
EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
EXHIBITION TEXT
Rozi Demant’s latest series of paintings indicate a shift to more life like and detailed portraits which signals a further development in this artist’s steady career.
In her eighth solo art exhibition since achieving almost instant success as a teenager, the artist has managed to retain that X-factor and uniqueness associated with her work. A figurative painter, expressing deeply personal thought and emotion Demant’s work has always breeched the conventions of basic portraiture. Symbolic imagery and unusual props surrounding the female figure remain apparent in the latest works but also show new imagery as well as humming birds and exquisite lace backdrops.
The intricacy and eye for detail in the depiction of the stunning work ‘Lace’, for example, is outstanding.
Several of these new portraits are framed ovals – a traditional framing and presentation method, immortalised by writer Edgar Allan Poe in 1842. In his famous but chilling story ‘The Oval Portrait’, he portrays an artist so engrossed while finishing a portrait of his wife she withers away and dies, unnoticed by the self-absorbed artist. When finished, he finally states: “This is indeed life itself.” Demant’s portraits also indicate a somewhat darker and deeper undercurrent coursing through the canvas.
While Demant’s work has always shown more than a nod to burlesque life and associated attire the humming birds and lacework are however delightful additions to her imagery.
In her eighth solo art exhibition since achieving almost instant success as a teenager, the artist has managed to retain that X-factor and uniqueness associated with her work. A figurative painter, expressing deeply personal thought and emotion Demant’s work has always breeched the conventions of basic portraiture. Symbolic imagery and unusual props surrounding the female figure remain apparent in the latest works but also show new imagery as well as humming birds and exquisite lace backdrops.
The intricacy and eye for detail in the depiction of the stunning work ‘Lace’, for example, is outstanding.
Several of these new portraits are framed ovals – a traditional framing and presentation method, immortalised by writer Edgar Allan Poe in 1842. In his famous but chilling story ‘The Oval Portrait’, he portrays an artist so engrossed while finishing a portrait of his wife she withers away and dies, unnoticed by the self-absorbed artist. When finished, he finally states: “This is indeed life itself.” Demant’s portraits also indicate a somewhat darker and deeper undercurrent coursing through the canvas.
While Demant’s work has always shown more than a nod to burlesque life and associated attire the humming birds and lacework are however delightful additions to her imagery.