Film I made and used as my source material for painting. 
my statement for the work -

'Foster is an interdisciplinary artist from Scotland currently based in Toronto. Fosters work ‘self-Portrait’ explores the intersections between self-discovery and self-destruction, commenting on subjects such as the Anthropocene, globalization and feminism. Exploring the paradox of empowerment and oppression within the rural Scottish landscape. This film illustrates Foster’s battle with identity within her landscape, beckoning the question ‘where do I belong?’ This work is a manifestation of Foster’s experiences of coming to terms with her identity within the context of rural Scotland. This work explores the essence nostalgia and memory throughout childhood and adolescence. The use of a black sheep further describes her experiences of alienation within her landscape, coinciding with the intrinsic practice of sheering a sheep. A practice she became very familiar with while growing up on a farm in Scotland.'

 

Marlene Dumas was born in Cape Town, South Africa. From 1972 to 1975 she attended Cape Town University, where she studied for a BA in Visual Arts. She then completed her studies in Haarlem, in the Netherlands.

She has lived and worked in Amsterdam since 1976. From 1978 she has exhibited internationally, and is one of Holland's most widely admired artists. In 1995 she represented Holland in the Venice Biennale, and in 1996 the Tate Gallery exhibited a selection of her works on paper.

In the past Dumas produced paintings, collages, drawings, prints and installations. She now works mainly with oil on canvas and ink on paper. The sources she uses for her imagery are diverse and include newspaper and magazine cuttings, personal memorabilia, Flemish paintings, and Polaroid photographs. The majority of her works may be categorised as 'portraits', but they are not portraits in the traditional sense. Rather than representing an actual person, they represent an emotion or a state of mind. Themes central to Dumas' work include race and sexuality, guilt and innocence, violence and tenderness.

'Sex Scene '​

6ft X 12ft​

Acrylic on mixed fabric​

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This work explores the nuances of sexuality and gender within my personal biography and within the context of society today. Both figures depicted in this work are myself, this concept explores the dualities of self-realization and self-destruction. As well as self-love and self-resentment. This work explores feelings of confusion and dysphoria. Exploring my battle to find my place within society and my community. This work explores my own self rejection and liberation, a paradox of emotions I found to be common in people struggling to come to terms with their identity within the terms of sexuality, gender and race. To produce this work, I investigated a range of artists such as Jenny Saville and Tracy Emin. I also referenced life drawings I had made and used a range of sketches to develop the work further, I found this fabric to be hard to amend mistakes, so I had to paint it with confidence and conviction and ensure that my errors are what made the work have value. ​