Interior Decorator
Andrea Gardner, Artist
This is one of the
photographs
in our collection.
It was made in
Whanganui, Whanganui Region, New Zealand
in 2021.
See full details
Object Detail
About the Work
In
2021
Andrea
Gardner
was
the
third
recipient
of
the
Pattillo
Project.
Her
photographic
work
'Now
I
have
Your
Attention'
won
the
Open
Award
of
the
Sarjeant's
annual
Pattillo
Whanganui
Arts
Review.
As
well
as
a
monetary
prize,
the
Pattillo
Project
gives
the
recipient
the
opportunity
to
develop
a
solo
exhibition
for
the
following
year
with
the
support
of
the
Gallery's
curatorial
team.
Gardner's striking winning work featured the artist with a paper bag over the head, perched behind a cardboard box with a small reproduction of a painting by the American miniarturist Sarah Goodridge from 1828. This tiny sel-portrait featuring Goodridge's bare breasts and painted on ivory was sent to the Senator Daniel Webster who, upon his death, had the painting donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.The collision of this tiny and at the time risqué painting with Gardner's self-portrait in a hot pink echo chamber with nothing but a cardboard screen for defence, was one of a group of images that were the genesis of Gardner's exhibition 'This is the Rabbit Hole'.
Gardner's project brings together a dynamic grouping of self-portraits that explore concepts around identity, selfhood, and the psychological tension found in the female experience.
Through staged photography Gardner juxtaposes the familiar with the unexpected and creates what she terms "truthful fictions", the resulting enigmatic images demonstrate a wonderful tension between the playful and absurd, colour and form. In each of the image Gardner has inserted herself into the scene but always in disguise - clothing, wigs, onerous cardboard and paper shapes play a vital role in skewing the view, with the artist's body becoming another shape, a sculptural element. Each image is staged in the studio, with the artist taking time to consider how the scenario might play out.
When talking about the title for the exhibition Gardner cites her process as being akin to going down a rabbit hole "a metaphor for being transported into a wonde3rfully strange or troubling surreal state or situation." Having worked in a variety of media over the years - from found objects to polystyrene meat trays and clay it seems that Gardner has found the almost perfect symbiotic blend of media to create a family of portraits that sit deliberately askew in a world awash with selfies.
- Greg Donson, Curator and Public Programmes Manager. Introductory text for 'Andrea Gardner. This is the Rabbit Hole' exhibition at Sarjeant on the Quay, Whanganui, 19/2/2022 - 8/5/2022
Gardner's striking winning work featured the artist with a paper bag over the head, perched behind a cardboard box with a small reproduction of a painting by the American miniarturist Sarah Goodridge from 1828. This tiny sel-portrait featuring Goodridge's bare breasts and painted on ivory was sent to the Senator Daniel Webster who, upon his death, had the painting donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.The collision of this tiny and at the time risqué painting with Gardner's self-portrait in a hot pink echo chamber with nothing but a cardboard screen for defence, was one of a group of images that were the genesis of Gardner's exhibition 'This is the Rabbit Hole'.
Gardner's project brings together a dynamic grouping of self-portraits that explore concepts around identity, selfhood, and the psychological tension found in the female experience.
Through staged photography Gardner juxtaposes the familiar with the unexpected and creates what she terms "truthful fictions", the resulting enigmatic images demonstrate a wonderful tension between the playful and absurd, colour and form. In each of the image Gardner has inserted herself into the scene but always in disguise - clothing, wigs, onerous cardboard and paper shapes play a vital role in skewing the view, with the artist's body becoming another shape, a sculptural element. Each image is staged in the studio, with the artist taking time to consider how the scenario might play out.
When talking about the title for the exhibition Gardner cites her process as being akin to going down a rabbit hole "a metaphor for being transported into a wonde3rfully strange or troubling surreal state or situation." Having worked in a variety of media over the years - from found objects to polystyrene meat trays and clay it seems that Gardner has found the almost perfect symbiotic blend of media to create a family of portraits that sit deliberately askew in a world awash with selfies.
- Greg Donson, Curator and Public Programmes Manager. Introductory text for 'Andrea Gardner. This is the Rabbit Hole' exhibition at Sarjeant on the Quay, Whanganui, 19/2/2022 - 8/5/2022
Measurements
to be measured
Media
archival photograph on Hahnemühle Ultrasmooth paper, dibond mounted
Description
Colour photograph featuring a standing figure with a plain mustard yellow background. The figure is wearing a blonde wig with their head down so the face is obscured, their left arm is raised. They are wearing a yellow stretchy tunic that goes down to their knees. Under the tunic is a wooden stool which creates interesting shapes as it the fabric stretches over the form. The figure is wearing yellow and black tartan tights with black shoes. The light casts a strong shadow on the wall behind the figure.
Credit Line
Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Gift of the artist, 2023
Collection Type
Permanent collection
Acquisition Date
21 Feb 2023
Share
Artist:
Nationality:
Accession Number:
2023/3/3
