Abi Anderson
Throughout the work I have created, I aspire to engage the viewer with the complexities of physical identity on a confrontational scale by relaying the extreme detail from the photograph with multiple layers of paint. This style of painting also challenges the differences between reality and realism, which confronts the ubiquity of filtered images and selfies throughout social media. Facial insecurities are celebrated in the work rather than hidden - capturing intricate details that reveal the unique character of each subject. By using oil paint and a photorealistic approach, I intend to bridge the gap between the immediacy of photography and the depth and tactility of traditional painting, and with the larger scale of the paintings themselves I hope to invite viewers to engage in a close examination, fostering a deeper connection with the sitter's presence and the complexities of the human visage.