Donor: Heather Straka May 13 – 31, 2008
The strength of the female gaze is celebrated in Heather Straka’s new exhibition entitled Donor. Amanda, an Auckland model, is the principal donor here, having posed for Ms Straka in bust views ranging from profile and three-quarter, to the front on. And a serious full frontal it is too. But who is looking at whom in these portraits? And just what do they have in mind? In other words, there is quite a range of psychology implicated here. “Repeat after me...Amanda #2” is a provocative mix of come hither and do not touch – not because she appears armless but because of the withering stare, aimed pointedly out from under the brow.
We are held at a taut distance from the implied sensuality of these paintings. Amanda’s is a handsome presence, but her pleasure is merely suggested. And herein lies the crux of Straka’s naturalism. In painterly terms, her powers of suggestion reside in the flat, almost air-brushed quality to the surface of her paintings. Things feel as they look – tight and almost air-less.
Jonathan Smart (Evelyn Page’s “Summer Morn” is reproduced courtesy of The Christchurch Art Gallery, Te Puna O Waiwhetu.) Selected worksDonor Heather Straka May 13 - 31, 2008 Back Gallery: "Repeat after me…Amanda” #1 “Repeat after me…Amanda” #2 “Repeat after me…Amanda” #3 “Repeat after me…Amanda” #4 “Repeat after me…Amanda” #5 “Repeat after me…Amanda” #6 These paintings are oil on stretched board, from 2008. They are all 980 x 770mm framed. Front Gallery: Donor Two, from The Banquet Donor Seven, from The Banquet These paintings are oil on stretched board, from 2007. They are 1000 x 760mm framed. The artist would like to acknowledge the support of the University of Otago where she is the Frances Hodgkins Fellow for the year 2008.
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