CARPE IMAGO TUI: SEIZE THE SELFIE
What If?
This installation started with a series of 'what ifs?' What if I painted portraits using photographs taken by the recipients themselves? The Selfie! And what if those selfies had stories behind them? What if they weren't about vanity or status, but about regular people in everyday moments?
What's The Story?
The original installation of oil portraits I created for ArtFields told the stories of sixteen individual people from many places, races, and stations in life. This series embraces modern humanity, relatable life, perhaps shared on social media but meant to last longer than the second it takes to click the 'like' button.
Why an Oil Portrait?
The beauty of an oil portrait is its longevity. Digital images get forgotten or deleted, cloud storage gets full, printed pictures fade. Long after these things happen - the painted portrait remains and can be lovingly passed down to the next generation. "Hey, Grandma? What's the story behind this portrait?"