In 2009, we launched a free-to-enter online competition calling for self-portraits in any format.
The quantity, diversity and quality of the response we received from Artists around the world far surpassed our expectations, prompting the development of this book. Visual Artist & Writer Craig Kerrecoe, founder of Ovenden Contemporary, has compiled over 100 of the self-portraits submitted to the competition, including paintings, photography, digital art, sketches, prints and sculpture from artists around the world.
The quantity, diversity and quality of the response we received from Artists around the world far surpassed our expectations, prompting the development of this book. Visual Artist & Writer Craig Kerrecoe, founder of Ovenden Contemporary, has compiled over 100 of the self-portraits submitted to the competition, including paintings, photography, digital art, sketches, prints and sculpture from artists around the world.
This gorgeous book contains self-portraits by Jonny Briggs, John Lyons (winner of the Windrush Arts Achiever Of The Year Award in 2003), Kaine Kulczak, Paula MacArthur (winner of the John Player Portrait Awards in 1989), Taryn Wells and N.R. Arton (winner of the Apthorp Award in 1998), amongst many other fantastic Artists.
Craig Kerrecoe says in the book's introduction, "Irrespective of the location of the contributing Artist, the diversity of the images submitted was impressive. Whilst the majority of entries were either paintings or photography, there were many sketches, prints and sculptural pieces, as well as a handful of short films.
Craig Kerrecoe says in the book's introduction, "Irrespective of the location of the contributing Artist, the diversity of the images submitted was impressive. Whilst the majority of entries were either paintings or photography, there were many sketches, prints and sculptural pieces, as well as a handful of short films.
"As you’d expect, most of the images could be considered traditional self-portaits, in that they feature a ‘head and shoulders’representation of the Artist, although the ‘professional’ portrait, where the Artist is depicted at work, scarcely featured. Artists these days, those that responded to our ‘call for art’ at least, seem far more interested in personal portraits, intended to reveal moral or psychological features of the individual.
Several of the Artists responded with portraits of people other than themselves, usually their partners. I find the concept of a self-portrait that doesn’t feature the artist something of a challenge. Is the Artist saying that they do not exist, other than when reflected in their significant other? Is this an attempt to flatter, a display of true love or an indication of low self-esteem? Interesting...
Pushing this concept of ‘self as others’ further, one of the responding Artists, Jonny Briggs, creates images that feature his parents, or himself dressed as his parents. His work is a deliberate subversion of paternal relationships and an exploration of the effects of those relationships on his own development.
Many Artists use the self-portrait as a means to protest some injustice they feel has been done to them, either personally, politically or socially, and others prefer to fantasize about who they wish they were, if only reality didn’t get in the way."
Pushing this concept of ‘self as others’ further, one of the responding Artists, Jonny Briggs, creates images that feature his parents, or himself dressed as his parents. His work is a deliberate subversion of paternal relationships and an exploration of the effects of those relationships on his own development.
Many Artists use the self-portrait as a means to protest some injustice they feel has been done to them, either personally, politically or socially, and others prefer to fantasize about who they wish they were, if only reality didn’t get in the way."
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