Of the crowd : miniature, memento, and miscommunication in the painting of portraits : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree in Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

The project described in this exegesis was completed between April and November of 2017. One hundred and twenty-nine people, unknown to the artist, answered a call for participation via poster and each submitted a portrait photograph on the promise that it would be painted in miniature and then gifted back to them. It was an exchange that hoped to slow down some of the split-second interactions we usually have with the unknown people around us. The projects methodology was constructed in order to query what really separates us as strangers.