It takes a little while to establish what's going on here, but Boo Ritson's work consists of photographs of real people upon whose faces, hair, bodies and clothes a thick impasto of wet paint has been freshly applied. It's a funny gag - or, if you prefer, a discourse on illusionistic representation in painting, sculpture and photography. Indeed, as Ritson plays with the old pleasures of trompe l'oeil, her slapstick painting creates a comic subversion of the genre. If this wasn't enough, there's also an imaginary narrative going on; her characters seem to be from an action movie, and include a hitman, a hooker and a beauty queen.
Neal Brown
FIRST POSTED MARCH 16, 2007
Boo Ritson, March 16 to April 29, 2007 David Risley Gallery, 45 Vyner St, London E2 9DQ, 020 8980 2202, Wed-Sun 12-6 or by appointment |
