Tania
1995
Medium
coloured inks, synthetic polymer paint, plastic and glitter on canvas
Measurements
132.0 × 85.4 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1997
© Courtesy of the artist's estate
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Pat Larter’s collage works, which she called ‘super scans’, recall a kitsch decorative aesthetic often associated with women’s craft. Larter used this aesthetic to critique associations of femininity with certain kinds of art, as well as sexualised imagery to challenge ideas of ‘good taste’. Throughout her career Larter tested the protocols of art-making, being one of the few Australian women artists to contribute significantly to ‘mail art’ in the 1970s, which she called ‘femail art’ to indicate the significance of her gender in her work. This movement sought to use ephemeral art-making methods to undermine the commodification of art objects.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in blue fibre-tipped pen on reverse "TANIA" PAT LARTER SEPT 1995
inscribed (diagonally) in pencil on reverse: Photoscan / Tania Sept. 95.
Accession Number
1997.342
Department
Australian Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Portraits
Subjects (specific)
feminism nudes (representations) patterns (design elements) prostitutes sexuality women (female humans)
Physical description
The subject of the work, Tania, is photographically reproduced on canvas by the superscan laser technique which involves computer-controlled airbrush guns spraying acrylic-based pigment inks. Tania is shown in black stockings and underwear, appearing to perform a strip-tease for the camera. The figure is surrounded by impasto glitter paint pipped, brushed and spread across the canvas. The entire environment surrounding each figure has been articulated and decorated with glitter, gel, and reflective fragments of plastic and found objects.