Sunday, August 16, 2015

Philip Willey reviews: About Face – The #selfie Art Show

Are you the kind of person who needs to take a selfie every half hour or so? Don’t feel bad. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-obsession. There is even a show at Martin Batchelor Gallery just for you.

Soltanovich & Quiroz, the team that brought you comic book covers last year, have come up with another great idea. It’s a blatant exploitation of the selfie phenomenon. Lots of artists responded…and why wouldn’t they? Who can resist a guilt-free chance to let their inner narcissist hang out?

I’m a big fan of selfies myself, especially my own. So where to start? With my own contribution of course! It exudes wit, imagination and world-class photo-shopping skills, perhaps not too surprising given my sophisticated cosmopolitan background. It was made at great personal risk and I think it’s the most amazing piece in the show. That may just be my opinion but I’m the one writing this so I could be a little biased. It’s not egotism, just healthy self-esteem. I’m expecting it to go viral.

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But hey it’s not all about me. There are some other good ones. Styles range from conventional portraiture, to photographic, collage to conceptual. Some of the faces look confident and some bemused some don’t look like faces at all. There were no rigid guidelines. Everybody participated in his/her own individual way. The opening was very well attended.

I don’t remember ever seeing such a bold, different, audacious, unusual, narcissistic, fearless….even solipsistic collection of submissions in one place at one time. It’s Me! Me! Me! everywhere. People clearly appreciate the chance to put themselves out there.

Highlights include Dame Mailarta, who isn’t known for her shyness. (Dale Roberts didn’t have time for one unfortunately.)

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Jim Swain instantly recognizable.

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Bruce Dean aka Johnny Cash.

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An outstanding sculptural triptych by Debora Alanna.

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There’s a curious piece by Will Gordon….a young (native?) man wearing a necklace of cigarette butts with a condom feather in his hair, Anina Kunstler’s Klee-like iconography, Roy Green surrounded by his various interests, a whimsical figure by Laura Balducci, Arlene Nesbitt’s variation on camera and mirror and a fragmented Sabina Proulx.  There are a couple of zombies, and even some nudity!

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So there you have it. Some of you are probably thinking ‘what about me?’ I worked hard on that piece and he didn’t even mention it! Call that a review?!? Well apologies to those people who got left out but it’s a big show. Don’t take it personally. All involved excelled themselves in exposing their wonderful unique talented selves to the public gaze.

The show is up until August 27th so enjoy it while it lasts. After that it’s back to obscurity and self-effacement.

Philip Willey

August 2015.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks so, for your kind comment about my work, Philip. A fun read. And I did think your work to be the most jocular selfie. Certainly, a provocation with your alter ego present as shadow!

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  2. Thank you kindly for mentioning my art in your write up.It was pleasure to be involved in such a great show with so many fun and unique artists.
    Cheerious from Cortes Island Laura Balducci

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