TRAUMA: Built to Break – William Utermohlen’s Self Portraits at Science Gallery Dublin, Ireland
TRAUMA: Built to break exhibition at the Dublin Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland includes
four self – portraits of William Utermohlen.
William Utermohlen’s ‘Self’, a self-portrait drawn in 1967, sees the artist with hunched shoulders, a receding hairline, and a delicate neck that speak of premature ageing and a sense of vulnerability. William was diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in 1995. He returned to the self-portrait for his last body of work — Self-Portraits — drawn over a period of five years as his illness progressed.
‘Self’ is accompanied by three portraits from this period.
In ‘Self-Portrait (Red)’, drawn in 1996, the front part of the skull — the source of William’s illness — is sharply outlined in red and green. Sadness, anxiety, resignation, and the feeling of feebleness are all apparent in the asymmetrical features of
‘Self-Portrait (Green)’ drawn in 1997. William expresses his emotions with remarkable precision using a new style of rough brushwork and bold drawing.
‘Head I’ is one of the last, drawn in 2000. A deepening crack runs through the centre of the face in this haunting sketch. The staring eyes are now like empty dark cavities, fixed onto a head turning into a skull.
Chris Boïcos Fine Arts in Paris, France.
TRAUMA: Built to break exhibition at the Dublin Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland includes
four self – portraits of William Utermohlen.
William Utermohlen’s ‘Self’, a self-portrait drawn in 1967, sees the artist with hunched shoulders, a receding hairline, and a delicate neck that speak of premature ageing and a sense of vulnerability. William was diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in 1995. He returned to the self-portrait for his last body of work — Self-Portraits — drawn over a period of five years as his illness progressed.
‘Self’ is accompanied by three portraits from this period.
In ‘Self-Portrait (Red)’, drawn in 1996, the front part of the skull — the source of William’s illness — is sharply outlined in red and green. Sadness, anxiety, resignation, and the feeling of feebleness are all apparent in the asymmetrical features of
‘Self-Portrait (Green)’ drawn in 1997. William expresses his emotions with remarkable precision using a new style of rough brushwork and bold drawing.
‘Head I’ is one of the last, drawn in 2000. A deepening crack runs through the centre of the face in this haunting sketch. The staring eyes are now like empty dark cavities, fixed onto a head turning into a skull.
Chris Boïcos Fine Arts in Paris, France.
