ARTIST STATEMENT
Heal Thy Selfie is an exhibition of female portrait paintings which explores the ‘healthy selfie’ through cleansing foods, virtual travel and the gaze.
In 2022, close to 100 million selfies are taken every day while the beauty and cosmetic industries grow bigger than ever, at times questionably regulated. In a selfie, a woman can be both the object of power and hold the power within herself: she is at home with watching herself being watched. And so, when she becomes sick, it is her reflection in the all-seeing, all-knowing mirror that will alert her.
In the health world, we know that chronic inflammation causes chronic illness, meaning that a healthy gut is crucial to both wellbeing and looking well. Global foods, from the wild blueberries of Canada to the celery juice of the Mediterranean to the lemon water of India, have become sweeping staples in the recovery from toxins in the body. In Heal Thy Selfie we can enjoy the escapism to far flung corners of the world where these foods have their origins, at a time when international travel is greatly reduced.
Pascale looks to her own 5-year experience with chronic illness which caused the malfunction of her immune system in a cytokine storm: Breast Implant Illness (BII), after prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction. She uses the many posted before/after selfies to inform the painted ‘after’ following explant to flat.
EXHIBITION OPENING
Sunday 19 June 2022, 3.30-5.30pm
The Boulevard at Montsalvat, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham VIC 3095
Nibbles provided, drinks at bar prices
Hand painted art door raffle prize!
Entry is free but booking is required at www.montsalvat.com.au.