Gavin Hurley | About Face: Contemporary Portraiture in Australia and New Zealand
Gavin Hulrey is featiured in the new publication "About Face: Contemporary ortraiture in Australia and New Zealand. Publisjhed by Thames and Hudson, it is a vibrant survey of contemporary portrait painters by curator and bestselling author Amber Creswell Bell.
Since the advent of the camera nearly two centuries ago, a portrait is no longer expected to be an exact likeness. From surrealist renderings to abstract interpretations, contemporary artists have shed the convention of traditional portraiture, experimenting with an array of styles to convey the personality and character of their subjects.
In "About Face", Amber Creswell Bell examines the practices of a diverse canvas of portrait painters in Australia and New Zealand. The dynamic nature of both the artists and their work reflects an evolution of culture, society and creative practice. These painters use portraiture to convey a narrative, engage with social, political or environmental issues or evoke the complexity of the human experience; some are simply fascinated by human faces.
Whatever the artist’s motivation, every work makes clear that portraiture has always been a powerful means of telling stories and exploring our individual and collective identities.
‘Containing a sublime collection of works, Amber Creswell Bell’s book is a deeply fascinating insight into Antipodean portraiture.’ – DAVID WENHAM
272 pages
hardback
23.7 x 29.7 cm
To order: https://thamesandhudson.com.au/product/about-face-contemporary-portrait-painting-in-australia-and-new-zealand/
