ARTIST CLOTHES HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN COLONIAL HISTORY, ANIMALS MASKS AND OTHER EXOTICA.

Jacqui Stockdale’s exhibition 'Familija' opens at Chapman Bailey Gallery in Melbourne on May 26th and continues until June 11th, 2005. This latest work is a series of theatrical portraits based on Australian colonial art and costumery. With titles such as 'Monkey as an Artist', 'Colonial Boy' and 'The Earle and her Codpiece' the work playfully explores heritage, the picturesque and aristocracy.

With the eye of a portrait painter and through the eye of a camera, Stockdale evokes nineteenth century styled studio photographs reminiscent of constructed colonial images of exotic peoples and landscapes.

She says, “There is a particular look about old photographs; the staged quality, the stillness and reverence. I work with my models in an attempt to recreate this particular ambience.”

Jacqui Stockdale is a Melbourne based visual artist and performer who has practised and exhibited widely around Australia since 1990. She has won numerous national art awards and her work is held in major public collections. She is best known for her elaborate portraits of her family, artists and performers. 'Familija' follows on from her highly successful exhibition at Chapman and Bailey in 2004, 'Shooting the Picturesque'.

view Jacqui's 2004 exhibition