Chuck Close Identity Analysis

Identity is defined as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” Chuck Close, an American painter born in 1940 explores this theme of Identity through his works such as 'Bob' using photorealism. Similarly the artist Ron Mueck explores the theme of Identity through his hyperrealist sculptures such as 'Boy'. Both of these artists use the imperfections of people to convey the sense of identity their subjects hold. Both my works and the works of the South African contemporary artist Lionel Smit similarly explore the theme using portraiture and bold colours.

Lionel Smit's artwork, Accumulation #3 (Figure 1) is a large oil on linen painting that depicts a Cape Malayan woman. Smit uses 'common' people as his models and by using Cape Malayan women he explores the hybrid identity of these women within a South African setting. Smit uses bold and symbolic colour, much the same to the fauvism movement in the early twentieth century. It's easy to lose oneself in the abstracted surface of the painting and it gives the viewer the social declassification as the viewer does not know who the subject of the artwork is. The historical and aesthetic precedent of the work gives it a very unique feel to Smit's work. The transparent layers of this portrait signify the various levels inherent in the

Personal bonds have a great effect on what we say and do which help us form our opinions, and our opinions define who we are and give us our identity. Smit's portraits hold a universal message, perhaps about the womanly fortitude and determination of women. Media has a fixation on the physical aspects of beauty heralding the lack of identity in women from the media. Faces convey an immense feeling of authority over the viewer Smit uses this in his painting as a way to communicate a broader