The connection between one’s self and one’s things is explored in “Portraits Without Faces”, which is currently exhibiting at Hyphen’s Hallway Gallery.
Alexander Leeworthy, a young artist from Yackandandah, created the intimate digital portrait drawings and watercolour paintings as an exploration of identity.
“I’m the kind of person who loves clutter, my room is filled with trinkets picked off walking trails and odd statues people find quite creepy. My family and close friends are quite the same,” Alexander recalled.
“I was sitting with a friend one day when I noticed just how much of her I could see within her room. Carpet coffee stains from rushed mornings and op shop knickknacks collected over years, I could see her favourite bands on CDs and the books on the shelf reflecting her opinions.
“I realised that if a stranger walked in they might come closer to knowing her then if she introduced herself on the street. Then I started to notice it everywhere - my mother’s artroom filled with plants and colours and a bookshelf dedicated to tea, I could see her even without her there.”
So they set about illustrating the experience of trying to know someone, without ever meeting them, continuing an interest of Alexander’s in giving viewers something to do or think about in their art.
“As a figurative artist I focus on conveying someone’s self mostly through their face, so it was a fun challenge to create that same feeling, but through their environment,” they said.
“In these artworks small details all come together to create a unique set of stories for those that want to see them.”
Alexander combined watercolour, the medium of their childhood, and digital, the medium of their teenage years, to tell the story of time even through the materials.
“Even the frames were found over months by my mother, I don’t think she minded the excuse to go op shopping though,” Alexander laughed.
“I hope people take away familiarity from this exhibition. I hope that it makes people relate with their own stories, or reminds us of people we love. I hope that people keep surrounding themselves with things that they enjoy, and for others to notice it.”
“Portraits Without Faces” by Alexander Leeworthy will be running at Hyphen’s Hallway Gallery until September 3, 2024.