SELF IMITATING SELF ANN HEALEY
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_ ISBN 978 - 981- 09- 6740- 6 PAPERBACK
978 - 981- 09- 6741- 3 E-BOOK
Returning to London after 17 years living in Asia, Ann Healey’s work is informed by elements from both her country of birth and the country where she spent almost two decades. Healey integrates the decoration of her childhood-patterns from old wallpaper, material collected by her maternal grandmother and elements of graffiti-with components of Asian inspired design and popular culture, referencing cartoon imagery in particular.
SELF IMITATING SELF
With the pervasive synthesis of technology and experience, a new culture of ‘ever online’ (or never not online) has emerged. The actualization of being human, our modes of expression and communication are bound by the various platforms with which we engage. Identities are fragmented and constructed, within a digital territory that allows for multiple realities. This approach allows for a selfhood that is open to experiment and alteration whilst simultaneously rejecting the impermanence of being.
ANN HEALEY
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In Ann Healey’s latest series, she plays with the idea of remixed and reconstructed identity. Manipulating the abstract shapes, figures and partially obscured structures, she alters the original components of the work, in a process that deforms and then reforms the original parts into an unfamiliar actuality. ‘This work feels as close to (and removed from) my own identity as the prints of my body onto the canvas. It’s all about who has control over the image – how we present self has forever been changed by the emergence of a digital landscape’ This ‘self imitating self’ theory allows for a multiplicity of being whilst searching for a legitimacy within the emerging materiality. It promotes a culture of appropriation and falsehood but also allows for a truthfulness through exploration, resulting in what Healey calls a loop of ‘authenticity and fabrication’. The two headed, female skull bunny, ‘aOK’, was created as an opposition to the consistent sexualizing of the feminine image. ‘I wanted to construct characters that were primarily engaged with their individual existence and not charged with this fabricated heightened sexuality. People almost always refer to ‘aOK’ as male but she’s not. Our perception of gender often lies within a framework of heteronormative ideals using signifiers such as long eyelashes, red lips, large breasts and constructed schemes of beauty as perpetuated by the internet, film, music videos, magazines and even cartoons. If we look to our counter male characters, no signifiers exist. ‘aOK’ challenges this.’ Ann Healey received a First Class degree in the combined studies of Fine Art Painting and Mathematics from Liverpool University after completing her Foundation Course at Central Saint Martins. She has held thirteen solo exhibitions around Asia as well as taking part in numerous group shows in galleries including the Singapore Art Museum and The Esplanade. She has been commissioned by brands from F1 Night Race Singapore to the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore.
Cover / inside cover: Love to be Loved to be Love to be Loved, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm Symmetry 16, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
left; Urban Freestyle, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm right; Urban Freestyle 4, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
previous page, top left; Two Heads 1, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
previous page, top right; Two Heads 3, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
bottom left; Two Heads 2, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
bottom right; Two Heads 10, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
left; Urban Mickey 5, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm right; Urban Mickey 8, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
top left; Urban Mickey 13, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm top right; Urban Mickey 12, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm bottom centre; Maria on the Cross II, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
left; LONDON CALLING 1, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm right; LONDON CALLING 3, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
left; Urban Mickey 2, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm right; Urban Mickey 3, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
left; Maria Urban 2, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm right; Maria Urban 3, 2015, A0 / A1 / A2, 84 x 118 / 59 x 84 / 52 x 59 cm
SELF IMITATING SELF ANN HEALEY
_
ISBN 978 - 981- 09- 6740- 6 PAPERBACK
978 - 981- 09- 6741- 3 E-BOOK
TAKSU is a leading contemporary art gallery and specialist in Southeast Asia. Representing selections of fine art with distinctive urban edge, we are at the forefront of contemporary art in this region. TAKSU works to forge a platform for established and emerging artists to share their pool of creativity and knowledge through its residency programs and exhibitions. Encapsulating the true meaning of the word TAKSU; divine inspiration, energy, and spirit. Suherwan Abu Director, TAKSU Galleries
Graphic Design Jeffrey Lim / Studio 25 Printer Unico Services Artworks & Images © 2015 Ann Healey This publication may be reproduced in any form for academic, editorial and/ or non-commercial purposes without special permission from the artist(s) and gallery, with acknowledgement of the source. For other purposes, prior consent is needed.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2015 SELF IMITATING SELF: Gallery Taksu (Singapore) 2014 FIFTY ONE: ArtSpace@Helutrans (Singapore) 2009 ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?: Gallery Night & Day (Singapore) 2007 c5h2o8: Gallery Taksu (Singapore) 2006 BLINK: Gallery Taksu (Singapore) 2003 IMPRINT: The Ritz-Carlton Millennia (Singapore) 2002 SCRATCHED: Palais Rennaisance (Singapore) 2002 HOME: TaraHome (Singapore) 2002 ART FOR PEACE: Orientalist (Singapore) 2001 BENEATH: La Jeuneuse Asian Art (Singapore) 2000 SLEEP: Villa Balquiese (Bali Indonesia) 2000 THE AWAKENING: Sculpture Square (Singapore) 2000 PINK: Gajah Gallery (Singapore) 1999 RETURN: Saks (London England) 1999 THE ART OF BEING: Notices The Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel (Singapore) GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2011 THE ELEPHANT PARADE: (Singapore) 2006 BLUEPRINT: The Esplanade (Singapore) 2005 FINDING SUNSHINE: The Art House (Singapore) 2004 THE ART OF DIGITAL HAPPINESS: SRT (Singapore) 2004 DON’T ALOHA MY BANANA: SENI Art Project (Singapore) 2003 RESOLUTIONS: Sculpture Square (Singapore) 2003 COMPLETION: Utterly Art (Singapore) 2003 ANTICIPATION: Utterly Art (Singapore) 2001 WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS: Sculpture Square, (Singapore & Traveling) 2001 EXHIBIT X: Taksu (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia) 1999 WOMAN: Notices The Gallery (Singapore) 1998 ARTISTS IN ESSEX: Waltham Abbey, Awarded Special Commendation (England) 1996 OPENING: The Mess (London England) 1996 FINAL: Benedict Art centre (Liverpool England) EDUCATION 1995 University of Liverpool, England BA Honours Combined Studies Fine Art Painting & Mathematics (1st Class) Awarded the DERWENT HOUSE PRIZE: University of Liverpool’s Top Prize for Arts & Science Degree 1992 Central Saint Martins (London, England) Art Foundation Course Commissions have included producing work for F1 Rocks in conjunction with F1 Night Race, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia and various publications and books. Ann Healey is one of the featured artists in 30 Art Friends and has appeared in numerous articles in magazines and newspapers.
SELF IMITATING SELF ANN HEALEY
_
_ ISBN 978 - 981- 09- 6740- 6 PAPERBACK
978 - 981- 09- 6741- 3 E-BOOK