BIG HEAD
Ann Shelton, Artist
This is one of the
photographs
in our collection.
It was made in 1998. The place where it was made is unknown.
About the Work
Ann
Shelton’s
Big
Head,
demonstrates
elements
of
‘70s
style
and
some
flash
bogan
elements
at
that.
Turning
away
from
the
viewer
the
back
of
a
freshly
shaved
head
displays
a
beautiful
array
of
tattoos—a
genie,
an
anime
girl,
jewelled
sword,
grim
reaper,
snake-clad
fantasy
figure
and
bug-eyed
skull.
Shelton
shows
us
a
posed
photo
of
a
friend
who
has
had
fun
dressing
up.
Style
here
is
unselfconsciously
self-aware,
something
we
can
make
up,
borrow
and
have
fun
with.
Shelton’s
image
of
retro
decor
and
lick
and
stick
tattoos
reflects
a
New
Zealand
in
which
even
the
fashion
of
Auckland
teenagers
acknowledges
to
some
extent
‘the
constructedness
of
gender,’
a
concept
once
the
province
of
‘80s
art
and
social
science.
Dress
up,
make
believe
and
play
with
signs
give
Shelton’s
works
a
special
twist
that
positions
them
in
sharp
relation
to
the
bona
fide
waif
and
slumming
model
glamour
of
iD
and
The
Face
contributors.
Jonathan Bywater ‘Folklore: the New Zealanders, curated by Gavin Hipkins at Artspace, Auckland (8 July - 1 August), Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui, 10 October - 22 November 1998.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/5/volktalk/
Jonathan Bywater ‘Folklore: the New Zealanders, curated by Gavin Hipkins at Artspace, Auckland (8 July - 1 August), Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui, 10 October - 22 November 1998.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/5/volktalk/
Measurements
752 x 500mm
Media
cibachrome on aluminium
Description
Colour photograph showing the back of a man's shaved head. He has a number of tattoos across his scalp. He is wearing a blue checked shirt and the background is yellow/orange, with light 'haloed' around his head.
Credit Line
Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Purchased, 2001.
Collection Type
Permanent collection
Acquisition Date
02 Jul 2001