Gladys Lai

Sydney Girls High School
warp and weft
Drawing

warp and weft is a diptych of distorted self-portraits, exploring the conflict between the female self and the patriarchal framework in which her identity has been constructed. While the juxtaposition of diffused charcoal and harsh lines remains an evocation of contradictory internalised dialogues, the work’s interplay with negative space makes the piece an intensely intimate project of self-scrutiny and, ultimately, acts as a rebellion against inauthentic masculine depictions of women.

ARTEXPRESS is a joint venture of the NSW Department of Education and the Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW, hosted by Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre.