‘My diverse cast of women have taken on superpowers. The more I delve into imaginative fashion trends, the more I come to realize that even the most fantastic disguises can and do cross over into mainstream, and that society is tending to lose its inhibitions.’ – Esther Erlich
Esther Erlich, Spellbound, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 137 x 137cm. Courtesy the artist and Fox Galleries, Melbourne
Esther Erlich’s new portrait series, ‘An Intimate Distance’ comprises paintings and drawings depicting half-figures – indeterminate hyper-gendered superheroes that provocatively fade in and out of abstraction, playfully investigating king princess iconography, fashion nova loyalty and escapism through fantasy.
Esther gives her portraits a living presence beyond the mask of appearance; the bold, yet intimate figures hold your gaze and invite you into a performative narrative of mutual gaze.
Fox Galleries
26 September to 9 December 2020
Melbourne
