For centuries the essence of humanity has been translated through the medium of portraiture. From Mona to Marilyn, inspiration drawn from human experience has compelled artists to contribute to the ever-expanding field that is the world of portraiture. Although renowned works such as Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Matisse’s Amélie will remain forever iconic, a recent wave of artists has manipulated new technology to take the art of portraiture in exciting new directions. The 2012 New Media Art Awards showcased the works of two contemporary artists who connect with modern audiences through their intriguing portraits: George Poonkhin Khut and Karen Casey. Their masterful use of technology and of audience involvement allow these innovative artists to look past basic ‘headshots’ and delve deeper into the human psyche and experience. In his book Portraiture, Richard Brilliant describes portraits as ‘vivid images of people, once known or previously unknown, now registered, preserved and accessible through works of art’ (Brilliant, 1991, p.7). In saying this, Brilliant refers to portraiture as an embodiment of one or more subjects, generally displayed through two-dimensional images. Although the portrayal of human expression described by Brilliant remains true in portraiture today, the recent incorporation of modern techniques has allowed contemporary artists to expand on this notion and interact with their audience. The introduction of digital media, particularly film and video art, has provoked a dramatic change in this art form, stemming from the significant changes in the ‘dialogue’ between artists and the public (Comer, 2009). The application of these advanced filming methods has enabled artists such as Khut and Casey to still represent human subjects traditionally, but in more encompassing and innovative ways. As winner of the 2012 New Media... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
George Poonkhin Khut, Distillery: Waveforming (Portrait of Lian), 2012. Camera: Julia Pendrill Charles; styling: Troy Brennan. HD video: colour, stereo, 12 mins. Courtesy the artist.
