Critique 2

The expressions in these portraits were again noticed to be neutral/unknown. They were not sad or angry, but rather portrayed a more 'smug' look, or a more curious look. The drawings were slightly blurred adding a softness to the features (dream like?). The portraits looked like they were searching/looking for something.

Although there was question if these were finished works, there was a consensus that they could be. Being unafraid of the white space/negative space, the things that are not depicted were found to be interesting. When viewing the drawings, there was enough portrayed to help visualise/imagine the full image.

In comparison to the first critique, these were seen more as studies, analyzing and exploring areas of the face, as well as looking at the build up of identity. Due to this, there were more questions raised. What are the contextual ideas grounding the work? And where could this go?

I received a couple recommendations of people to look at that may help with the development of the work. The first was Melanie Klein and her object relations theory, describing the significance of early childhood relationships, transforming them into 'internal objects'. The second was Annette Messager, an artist whose work explores the nature of identity, memory, and the complexities of human experience, often using everyday objects, found materials, and fragmented images to examine social and personal perceptions.

(The hidden faces (below) were not noticed in this critique)

Notes Taken:

• Portrait

• Realism

• Curious

• Smug

• Not sad

• Not angry

• Softness

• Searching

• They are studies that we are looking at

• Are they finished works?

• It feels like they can be finished works

• It feels like there's some exploring

• Look into installation techniques

• What are the contextual ideas grounding the work?

• Edited

• Where could this go?

• Part object - Melanie Klein - Our relationship to our identity and time

• The build up of identity

• The things that are not depicted are interesting

• Masks speak to other things other than fragmented identity

• Annette Messager

• Think about the source

• Unafraid of the white space