When we meet someone for the first time, we form an impression of that person. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we are making a judgment.. At the same time, we are trying to present ourselves in a way that we want to be seen by them. Jeanette Lotz has been asking people she found interesting and intriguing, but with whom she was not acquainted, if she could photograph them with a view to painting their portrait. |
She wanted to capture the essence of their personality at that particular moment in time. In so doing, two people, who were strangers to each other, were suddenly involved in a very personal and often even intimate situation. Although a deeper layer of personality was revealed, the first impression was also still relevant, hence “Beyond First Impressions”.
Unlike in traditional portraiture, Lotz doesn’t try to depict her subjects in a flattering or fashionable way. Instead, she wants us to “meet” these people. Some of them have been painted in motion or are gesturing, because their body language seemed essential to their personality. Others, are just a face, looking directly at the viewer, or turned away as if in their own private space. But all of them are inviting us to “see” and “read” their personal story.
Our, as well as Lotz’s assessment of these people is no doubt different to how they perceive themselves. Therefore, the paintings include, some text, often written by the subjects themselves. This could be a life motto, or a flow of thoughts – something to give an inside glimpse.
For this project Lotz wanted to depict a broad spectrum of society – people of varying ages, race and from different social and professional backgrounds.
Unlike in traditional portraiture, Lotz doesn’t try to depict her subjects in a flattering or fashionable way. Instead, she wants us to “meet” these people. Some of them have been painted in motion or are gesturing, because their body language seemed essential to their personality. Others, are just a face, looking directly at the viewer, or turned away as if in their own private space. But all of them are inviting us to “see” and “read” their personal story.
Our, as well as Lotz’s assessment of these people is no doubt different to how they perceive themselves. Therefore, the paintings include, some text, often written by the subjects themselves. This could be a life motto, or a flow of thoughts – something to give an inside glimpse.
For this project Lotz wanted to depict a broad spectrum of society – people of varying ages, race and from different social and professional backgrounds.