5/1: Annie Murphy-Robinson “Roles and Poses”


Annie Murphy-Robinson
Roles and Poses
showing with Jessica Dalva Hapax Legomena

May 1 – 31, 2015
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1st, 8-11 PM
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90027
www.laluzdejesus.com

At first glance, Annie Murphy-Robinson’s drawings look like photographs of impossibly beautiful girls in a range of settings–from the miraculous to the mundane. No works of emulsion on photo paper, these are charcoal drawings of the artist’s own daughters. Prolonged viewing reveals the impeccable technique of the medium’s greatest living artist capturing an essence that would be unavailable to anyone not immediately related to them. Annie’s work exposes a familiarity that isn’t just a perfect rendering, but reveals the complex emotions of her subjects in a way that transcends the sterility of forced poses. Her chosen medium may be charcoal, but her product is real human empathy.

The intent of my work is to allow the viewer to interpret meaning using their own experience. My feelings/ thoughts behind it are directly related to my personal history with the subjects in the work, whether they are animate or inanimate. A certain sadness, hopelessness or resignation seems to always be present, for me it allows for deeper contemplation. I tend to title the work in a very straight-forward manner, that way the viewer again has access to the image and isn’t steered in a different direction.

My technique is relatively unknown, I use sandpaper as a medium to embed dry material into heavy paper. Using this technique, I am able to “see” in the dark; I use a myriad of photographic reference for the images of my daughters and I draw from life the images of my old toys and memorabilia. The use of this technique takes the work to a “hyper-real” level and lends itself well to the pervasive feeling of melancholy that exists. My intent is to confront the viewer and ask questions.

There is honesty to the work that I can only express if I have a true connection with it. I pick out everything from the outfits and rugs that the subjects sit on to the lighting in order to capture the feeling that I wish to convey for that body of work. I have started to incorporate props as well which leads to a narrative that is also open for interpretation. My art is a diary of sorts, quasi self-portraits that reference my childhood experiences, good and bad. – Anne Murphy Robinson

To view the entire show on the gallery site click here – more images to be added.|
Media friends – please contact Reverberations Media for interview opportunities and additional images.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share

, , ,

Website by Mancha