Olivia Elizabeth Yarwood
Winmalee High School
L'ETRANGER
Drawing
Dry Media
My body of work is a series of portraits that emphasises negative space, alluding to the notion of unknown identity. It examines the concept that not knowing someone can modify our perception of their appearance. I expressed this concept by asking strangers to allow me to draw them. I was also inspired by Picasso's view on incompletion in art: “To finish it means to be through with it … to rid it of its soul.” Using charcoal and pencil on paper panels, my intention is for L'Etranger to be like an 'identity puzzle' which the audience is left to resolve.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artist: Pablo Picasso
Marker's Commentary
L’etranger is an engaging drawing submission representing an exploration of societal perceptions which navigates a journey of unfamiliar identities and appearances. Through a confident and engaging use of negative space, intentionally leaving sections of the portrait untouched, the series showcases a sensitive interplay between graphite and coloured pencil rendering. This vibrant synergy between materials invites deeper engagement with the collection, presented as a cohesive series of eight enigmatic portrayals. The curatorial practice reflects restraint, consistency and assurance. The selected compositional faces and curious gazes take cues and build the narrative from the subjects, captured from previously, minimal interaction. Intentionally creating voids, the exclusion of drawing from areas around the face allows the audience to consider reasons for the hidden disclosure and the identity of the subjects. Materially, the scale and tonality represented in the portraits seamlessly invites consideration of the dichotomies that exist both within individuals and in relationships, inviting many interpretations.