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ART & DESIGN AWARDS
More than Two is a two-dimensional painting, consisting of three large-scale, wooden panels. The work includes multiple portraits depicting numerous representations of gender.
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This format plays on the title of the series, as the multiple perspectives act in clear defiance to the traditional ideology of there being only ‘two’ genders.
More than Two is an appropriation of Richard Larter’s Five in a Row Show which consists of a collage of iconic women. The Pop Art style of these paintings allows for the creation of a fun and colourful atmosphere. By using a colour palette and
Pop Art style similar to Larter’s, I hope to communicate that gender identity is something to be celebrated rather than suppressed. Through the use of mass portraiture, collaged together, the paintings portray all kinds of representations of
gender identity.
The inclusion of three panels complements the title of the work, each panel telling a story of oppression and liberation within the LGBTQ+ community.
Panel one references Australia’s historical oppression of this community, with the inclusion of traditional painting iconography such as the halo and the rays. The first panel also references Picasso’s painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in its composition and the use of masks on figures.
Panel two looks at ‘exploration’ as a key theme in the LGBTQ+ community. The majority of images are from Nan Goldin who shot intimate portraits in the 80s and 90s, a time when gender expression was emerging on a more mainstream
level despite the restrictive legislation of the times.
Panel three represents contemporary attitudes towards gender expression, referencing artists such as Hilma AfKlint whose Swan series touches on topics of both gender expression and spectrum.
My Body of Work aims to educate and even challenge people’s ideas on gender and its role in society. Gender exists on such a diverse spectrum and through More than Two, I hope to communicate the vastness of this concept.