Relationships Portraiture as a manifestation of relationships between people

What do these family portraits tell about the relationship amongst the family members?

Discussion In groups of four, take a close look at the given family portrait. –Raise as many questions as you can that you want to know about the work (E.g. Who do you think is the artist in the painting? How did you deduce that? Who do you think are the people in the picture? –As a group, pick out 5 key questions that you want to address, discuss and find out more. –Read the excerpt about the artist/work –Discuss, note down points and present your ideas/findings to the 5 chosen questions to the class

Family Portrait Hendra Gunawan 1968 Oil on canvas 200 x 147 cm.

The Haji Family Redza Piyadasa 1990 Mixed Media 51 x 80 cm.

The Painter’s Family Henri Matisse 1911 Oil on canvas 143x194 cm

Bloodline: The Big Family No. 2 Zhang Xiaogang 1995 Oil on canvas 180 x 230 cm

Family Portrait Georgette Chen Undated Oil on canvas x cm

Being Together (Family) John Clang ( Ang Choon Leng ) 2010 Fine art archival print ( Photograph) X cm

Portraiture can tell us about the relationships between the people in the picture. The facial expressions, poses, arrangements and setting provide rich information about the sitters and how they relate to one another. Students learn how artists depict the diversity and dynamics of human relationships in their works.

Important Dates for Term 1 25 February – Review of preparatory work –Sketches, ideas, experimentations with materials, artist references, photos –To cover 1 to 2 prep boards (A2 size) 7 March – Submission of Studio work

This coming Thursday… Continue work with Alternative Portraits –Physical work –Show pics of work in progress Bring a digital camera