A portrait inherently objectifies its subject. The female body in particular has been portrayed in a multitude of societal, cultural, scientific and historical contexts that build a sense of glorification, and sometimes eroticism. The ‘ideal’ female anatomy has changed over time, with varying aesthetics that metamorphose based on age, race, geography and time period. In this painting I layer abstraction, pattern and figures to explore the mutability of identity, gender and beauty.
Both models have gorgeous body art, however because our respective geographical locations didn't allow us to do a live sitting I was unable to capture their tattoos in this painting. Instead, I've left their bodies bare as a blank canvas, allowing the viewer to cast their own interpretations of the piece.