AN EVENING WITH STEFANNY
L'Escargot Restaurant, Soho
7 & 12 April 2016
In collaboration with Hugo Wheeler
The soirée, hosted by Clive Jennings, Director of the National Print Gallery, invited emerging artists Eleanor Johnson and Venetia Berry to paint transgender model Stephanie nude within three hours in front of a live audience enjoying a decadent three-course meal by L'Escargot.
Both painters have academically trained foundations yet are gestural and expressive in their exploration of the human condition through portraiture.
The idea was a reaction against binary roles of gender and a celebration of the age of androgyny.
"Curators Magdalena Moursy and Hugo Wheeler of Transparent Platform have allowed us a Voyuer’s peak into the very lively relationship between sitter and artist, that pervades through all portraiture. If you’re at all interested in the artistic process, watching the expressions and thoughts of an artist at work whilst enjoying a meal with a live pianist, is an incredibly enjoyable experience." Its Rude to Stare
Eleanor Johnson
Practice Session
7 April
14 April
Venetia Berry
Practice Session
7 April
14 April
The evening sought to deliver a heightened relationship between the audience and the artist, offering insight into different artistic processes. After three hours of intense work by the artists, the audience were invited to join an informed discussion about the artist’s progress and technique.
"The experience, the art, the idea of bringing strangers together around a table for a wonderfully social evening, all are born from a spark of adventure and daring." The Upcoming