Kassia Painting

'Kassia' is the first painting in my ICONS series which plays on one of the canons of art history; the muse. As the ultimate expression of male artists' fantasies of idealised femininity - there to be viewed, possessed, consumed - the muse’s demure posture, with eyes averted, cannot challenge the (implicitly male) gaze of the viewer. My fabulous women allow no such objectification. Presented in square format to echo ubiquitous social media selfies, they take control of their images, locking gazes with the viewer's as they claim their space - or lean out of it, defying containment. By borrowing masculine poses from historic or contemporary portraits of men, I have created tension between my subjects’ postures and our expectations of female deference. Wearing their own clothing and accessories, they present themselves as they wish to be seen, not playing a role projected by others. For the backgrounds I have created bespoke surface patterns for each woman, utilised here as wallpaper, representing elements of their characters, professions or passions, weaving personal stories and symbols around them. Embellished with 22ct gold-leaf, their square halos signify their status as living icons, for all five have had a significant and lasting impact on my life; inspiring, teaching and joining me on my journey. In floriography the Rudbeckia flower, commonly known as Black-Eyed Susan, symbolises justice. I have used this as a motif arranged in the style of a traditional damask pattern as a representation of Kassia’s all-consuming profession as a barrister within in our ancient and world renown legal system. Kassia's pose is borrowed from a 16th Century portrait of Henry VIII who rewrote the law to suit his own purposes.