When we stop to look around us, art is everywhere. It can be found in our homes, our workplaces, cultural institutions, and the media.
Art has the power to transport us to other places and worlds. It also allows us to reflect upon ourselves, to make us think outside the box and question what we know.
But what happens when art refers back to itself as a subject within the frame? In this situation, when art is displayed within art, we are confronted with understanding how it can be perceived by the artist and in relation to the scene. This exhibition questions how we interpret what we see when art is integrated within the overall theme or message of another artwork.
Art: A Self-Portrait not only includes works where the primary subject is art itself but others where there are additional elements at work within the frame. In one case the viewer takes the place of a voyeur, in another, art within art takes centre stage.
In each case, Art: A Self Portrait asks viewers to slow down and look not only at the objects directly in front of them, but to focus in on how others see art as shown within the artworks. It is with this insight that we can look at our own viewing habits and uses for art, understanding how art fits within our own lives and how it becomes part of our personal stories.