Feature: Spectacular Opening of British artist Sayers’ Solo Exhibition at Tainan - Noodls
At 3pm, on the afternoon of November 8, the opening of the exhibition “Re-inventing the Museum：Changing Places by Phil Sayers” took place at B.B.Art in Tainan, Taiwan.
The opening reception was attended by more than fifty, of which included representatives from the Tainan Municipal Cultural Center, professors and students majoring in art, and general art-lovers alike.
British-born Phil Sayers utilizes photography and digital manipulation to construct his masterpieces, which are mainly inspired by the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite Movement.
With a “long background” – Sayers jokes about his age – the artist is accomplished as both a painter and printmaker. However, he “came to like printmaking better than painting”, the artist admits, which is why he decided to use photography as his chosen media for expression.
“I realized that I must just perform as a woman, and that would make it much more simple, much more direct and much more easy to understand, so photography was the way to do it, so it was straight forward”, he adds.
A transgender artist, Sayers is his own model, and his work both explores the aspects of gender transformation, and questions the imposed gender stereotypes of society.
Feelingly, he describes how, almost wherever you look in history, women are viewed as second rate, assuming passive, useless roles in society.
Taking inspiration from paintings of the 19th century, he adds that he wants to respond to that message and change its perception.
“To subvert the representation of women in historical paintings and sculptures and to understand what they really do say”, Sayers says, is what he aims to achieve.
Though unconventional, the artist’s gradual transition between man and woman is supported and accepted by his loving family and surrounding friends.
“It was fantastic”, he says, “I am the person that I want to be, and that people can relate to me as I am”.
The innocent comment of “Daddy, you make a beautiful woman” from his youngest daughter, then 7 year old, was perhaps the most glowing form of acceptance.
Su Sayers, his wife of many years, was also in attendance. A teacher at textiles herself, she confesses that she “made him a dress, helped with his hair, the like.”
Questioned about her feelings regarding her husband’s change, she replied that it was a gradual change over the years, adding that, sometimes, “you have to go with the flow”, acting as a perfect pillar of support.
The successful exhibition is curated by Assistant Professor Ming Turner, from the NCKU Institute of Creative Industries Design, whom has been acquainted with Sayers for 11 years, since her studying at Loughborough University, UK.
When she invited the artist to visit Tainan, she brought him to B.B.Art, garnering the attention of Jamie Tu (owner of the gallery).
“She (Tu) was very interested in his work”, Professor Turner says, “and so we arranged for this solo exhibition”
This spectacular exhibition will continue to be on display until December 28th, and is open to all whom are interested.
Enditem/wan-ling yi
The opening reception was attended by more than fifty, of which included representatives from the Tainan Municipal Cultural Center, professors and students majoring in art, and general art-lovers alike.
British-born Phil Sayers utilizes photography and digital manipulation to construct his masterpieces, which are mainly inspired by the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite Movement.
With a “long background” – Sayers jokes about his age – the artist is accomplished as both a painter and printmaker. However, he “came to like printmaking better than painting”, the artist admits, which is why he decided to use photography as his chosen media for expression.
“I realized that I must just perform as a woman, and that would make it much more simple, much more direct and much more easy to understand, so photography was the way to do it, so it was straight forward”, he adds.
A transgender artist, Sayers is his own model, and his work both explores the aspects of gender transformation, and questions the imposed gender stereotypes of society.
Feelingly, he describes how, almost wherever you look in history, women are viewed as second rate, assuming passive, useless roles in society.
Taking inspiration from paintings of the 19th century, he adds that he wants to respond to that message and change its perception.
“To subvert the representation of women in historical paintings and sculptures and to understand what they really do say”, Sayers says, is what he aims to achieve.
Though unconventional, the artist’s gradual transition between man and woman is supported and accepted by his loving family and surrounding friends.
“It was fantastic”, he says, “I am the person that I want to be, and that people can relate to me as I am”.
The innocent comment of “Daddy, you make a beautiful woman” from his youngest daughter, then 7 year old, was perhaps the most glowing form of acceptance.
Su Sayers, his wife of many years, was also in attendance. A teacher at textiles herself, she confesses that she “made him a dress, helped with his hair, the like.”
Questioned about her feelings regarding her husband’s change, she replied that it was a gradual change over the years, adding that, sometimes, “you have to go with the flow”, acting as a perfect pillar of support.
The successful exhibition is curated by Assistant Professor Ming Turner, from the NCKU Institute of Creative Industries Design, whom has been acquainted with Sayers for 11 years, since her studying at Loughborough University, UK.
When she invited the artist to visit Tainan, she brought him to B.B.Art, garnering the attention of Jamie Tu (owner of the gallery).
“She (Tu) was very interested in his work”, Professor Turner says, “and so we arranged for this solo exhibition”
This spectacular exhibition will continue to be on display until December 28th, and is open to all whom are interested.
Enditem/wan-ling yi
Click Num:
Share
