Anne Zahalka
(Australia 1957– )
- Title
- Artist #47 (Debra Phillips), from the series Artists
- Year
- 1990
- Media category
- Photograph
- Materials used
- Duraflex photograph
- Edition
- Artist proof from an edition of 10 + 2 APs
- Dimensions
-
85.5 x 85.0cm image (sight); 90.0 x 89.0 x 3.7cm frame
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of the artist 2011. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
- Accession number
- 396.2011.1
- Copyright
- © Anne Zahalka. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
As part of a generation of Australian women artists who came to the fore in the early 1980s, Anne Zahalka’s practice has always been concerned with questioning dominant myths and cultural constructs. The broad sweep of Zahalka’s oeuvre has often been underpinned by a common strategy: the world in her images appears as theatre where place, gender and national identity are questioned.
With the ongoing series ‘Artists’, Zahalka turns her critical lens upon the creative process and the myth of the artist as hero. Each figure in the more than 25 portraits completed so far is a noted contemporary practitioner and Zahalka has shown them in clever set-ups that hint at or proclaim who they are. The artful and performative nature of ‘Artist #47 (Debra Phillips)’ conveys a self-reflexive play on notions of artistic ‘genius’. Numbered like a prototype inventory these collaborative portraits can appear ironic. In Zahalka’s self portrait, ‘Artist #33’, there is also delight and creative potential in play-acting with a stereotype which is being unmasked.
- Bibliography (1)
-
Centre for Contemporary Photography (Australia) (Author), Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka portraits 1987-2007, 2007, (illus.).
- Exhibition history (15)
-
8th Biennale of Sydney 1990. The readymade boomerang. Certain relations in 20th century art., Art Gallery of New South Wales, 11 Apr 1990–03 Jun 1990.
Anne Zahalka: artists, City Gallery, Melbourne, 30 May 1990–30 Jun 1990.
Anne Zahalka: artists, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 05 Jul 1991–04 Aug 1991.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Centre for Contemporary Photography, 13 Mar 2007–12 May 2007.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Warrnambool Art Gallery, 15 Sep 2007–28 Oct 2007.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, National Portrait Gallery [Parliamentary Zone], 23 Nov 2007–31 Mar 2008.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Ipswich Art Gallery, 17 May 2008–27 Jul 2008.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, 29 Aug 2008–12 Oct 2008.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, 06 Dec 2008–01 Feb 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Artspace Mackay, 06 Feb 2009–22 Mar 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, 24 Apr 2009–21 Jun 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Riddoch Art Gallery, 04 Jul 2009–02 Aug 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, 26 Sep 2009–25 Oct 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Devonport Regional Gallery, 06 Nov 2009–31 Dec 2009.
Hall of mirrors: Anne Zahalka, portraits 1987-2007, Gippsland Art Gallery, 30 Jan 2010–28 Feb 2010.
