'PERSONAS' is an upcoming exhibition by Anthony Quartuccio that explores the interior states of certain individuals.
It is Anthony's first solo exhibition, and his art is expressed through the medium of altered physical appearances. It will be on display at the Port Community Arts Centre's Black Diamond Gallery.
Here, Anthony pens an open letter about the exhibition and where it began.
'Psychlops'
“I am not the sort of photographer who trades in faithful illustration as you will soon learn. My upcoming first solo exhibition 'PERSONAS' is a collection of self-portraits and portraits of people in my life who I like enough to destroy their external appearances.
I think it may have been Oscar Wilde who once said something along these lines; that if you give a man a mask, he will reveal his true self. I hope I haven’t been too literal in my adoption of that statement.
The technique I use often draws the most curiosity. Well, visualise a rough patch-work of cut-up old stockings, some coagulated face paint, a handful of mud from the backyard all bound together with string and hospital-grade bandage being smeared on to my face haphazardly as I attempt to gauge out a couple of eye-holes so I can actually see what I am doing. My wife Clare usually puts the kettle on at this point. It’s a long night ahead as I blindly attempt to adjust the camera.
Before long, a flood of light and the repetitive clicking of the camera gets me going as I shake my head side-to-side as if to signal some repressed ‘no’ to the whole process. And now the otherwise clean kitchen (which gets the best natural light in the house) is full of dust, paint clumps and soggy bandages. My eyes sting. Fortunately, we don’t entertain as much as we used to.
'Vanity And Corruption'
After leaving behind some years working in the criminal law, I decided to pursue my life-long interest in art but not just as a past-time, I wanted to see how far I could take it. Originally, I was simply photographing my paintings, then I was shooting the paint that inevitably got onto me and my clothes and before long I found myself producing photo-portraits. I see these portraits as a constellation of photography, painting, sculpture and mask construction.
In exhibiting 'PERSONAS' I am hoping to present an alternative to the manicured, Photoshopped exteriors we usually expect from portraiture. Ugliness and distortion, division and imperfection are rampant through the show because I think these things are important. Without that union of opposites – without the side we edit out – we’re not a complete human being. Our scowls and twisted facial knots of horror are just as valid as our well-practised, work and coffee shop faces. So if you’re in Adelaide for my opening night, please come for a look – all persons (and personas) are very welcome.”
