Illuminated

About

A group of 16 women open up to two female artists in an honest, intimate discussion about themselves and then pose comfortably nude. The exhibition has been funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign and features painted and photographic portraits. The core aim of the project is to illuminate each woman's identity through two nude portraits, avoiding the use of the body as an anonymous form. Through collaboration on the concept and creative process, each subject is given creative agency and the opportunity to be naked on her own terms. The resulting works celebrate, visually and conceptually, the inner and outer beauty of women and challenge the viewer to recognise the individual within her body. The paintings weave Victorian decorative patterns into the bodies of the women while leaving their faces highly focused. The juxtaposition of impressionistic and photorealistic techniques highlights the tension of having to house an individual personality in a body subject to generic expectations. The photographs show the participants with an image projected onto their bodies. The projected image is chosen to be meaningful to the individual, drawn from the stories and feelings she shares with the artists. The result is expressive and intimate, creating a layer on top of the subject while revealing something from within. Juli Jolly works mainly in painted portraiture. Her work is a blend of photorealism and dynamic patterns and draws on Pre-Raphaelite and Psychedelic traditions. Juli is fascinated by human psychology and the human form and face, and is interested in exploring the tactile, sensual element of art. Amy Goodchild's work is based in photography. Her work is experimental and exploratory, often using layering techniques. She aims to create visually and conceptually striking work which questions the universe and speaks to the viewer.