Tableau

Tableau

‘Tableau’ describes a painting or photograph in which characters are arranged for a picturesque effect, acting entirely oblivious to the viewer.

In painting and still photography, a ‘tableau’ refers to a carefully composed scene in which characters are arranged to create a visually striking and dramatic effect. In a tableau, artists meticulously pose, costume, and often use theatrical lighting to recreate a painting or a scene from art history or literature. The individuals in these posed scenes remain still and silent, akin to a frame within a painted canvas, while at times, a wooden frame outline may be used as a visual reference.

On the stage, a tableau denotes a moment when all the characters in a performance freeze for about thirty seconds before resuming their actions as before. This genre of artistic expression reached its peak in popularity in eighteenth-century Europe.

10 results found for "Tableau"

article

Gregory Crewdson – 25 years of Twilight

On the 25th anniversary of landmark series Twilight, revisit Gregory Crewdson's supernatural vision of suburbia and collect a trio of limited edition photographic prints.

Gregory Crewdson – 25 years of Twilight
article

Curated by Julian Schnabel

Palazzo-dwelling painter and filmmaker Julian Schnabel is back. This time, with a selection of original works by artists from his own collection.

Curated by Julian Schnabel
Artist

Stickymonger

Joohee Park, aka Stickymonger, (she/her) was born in South Korea and is now based in Brooklyn, New York.

Stickymonger
Print

Suburban Dreams

Aaron Johnson brings his cosmic visions back to earth with a subversive take on suburbia.Palm trees and little bungalows, leisure shirts and sunburns; archetypal California underpins the otherworldly scene. Fluid figures emerge from glowing energy fields of colour, created by the artist's signature soak stain technique. While monstrous, the characters– and the tableau they inhabit – are spiked with humour. A sense of normalcy disrupts the figuration; kids are glued to the TV, bridging the gap between the real and imagined.“I’m thinking about the idyllic idea of wholesome American life in the suburban dream – we all know there’s weird stuff lurking behind the surface.”

Suburban Dreams
Print

Water makes up most of the human body (pink)

Face Oka parodies the classic pin-up with a tongue-in-cheek take on portraiture.Oka's fondness for vibrant colour is realised in four fluorescent finishes, each drawing focus to the hourglass figure of a doll-like woman. She’s smiling, but only because her simply-drawn face is upside down – suggesting discomfort with her objectification. A pair of jugs contribute to an assembly of visual puns that gradually reveal themselves upon inspection. 
A mocking tableau, Water makes up most of the human body embodies Oka's distinctive sense of humour and exploration of overt sexuality.
Join us on Avant Arte Collective on September 15th to be guided through the production process by printmaker Tom. Face Oka will join the event to answer your questions and discuss the edition.

Water makes up most of the human body (pink)
Print

Water makes up most of the human body (yellow)

Face Oka parodies the classic pin-up with a tongue-in-cheek take on portraiture.Oka's fondness for vibrant colour is realised in four fluorescent finishes, each drawing focus to the hourglass figure of a doll-like woman. She’s smiling, but only because her simply-drawn face is upside down – suggesting discomfort with her objectification. A pair of jugs contribute to an assembly of visual puns that gradually reveal themselves upon inspection. 
A mocking tableau, Water makes up most of the human body embodies Oka's distinctive sense of humour and exploration of overt sexuality.
Join us on Avant Arte Collective on September 15th to be guided through the production process by printmaker Tom. Face Oka will join the event to answer your questions and discuss the edition.

Water makes up most of the human body (yellow)
Print

Water makes up most of the human body (green)

Face Oka parodies the classic pin-up with a tongue-in-cheek take on portraiture.Oka's fondness for vibrant colour is realised in four fluorescent finishes, each drawing focus to the hourglass figure of a doll-like woman. She’s smiling, but only because her simply-drawn face is upside down – suggesting discomfort with her objectification. A pair of jugs contribute to an assembly of visual puns that gradually reveal themselves upon inspection. 
A mocking tableau, Water makes up most of the human body embodies Oka's distinctive sense of humour and exploration of overt sexuality.
Join us on Avant Arte Collective on September 15th to be guided through the production process by printmaker Tom. Face Oka will join the event to answer your questions and discuss the edition.

Water makes up most of the human body (green)
Print

Water makes up most of the human body (blue)

Face Oka parodies the classic pin-up with a tongue-in-cheek take on portraiture.Oka's fondness for vibrant colour is realised in four fluorescent finishes, each drawing focus to the hourglass figure of a doll-like woman. She’s smiling, but only because her simply-drawn face is upside down – suggesting discomfort with her objectification. A pair of jugs contribute to an assembly of visual puns that gradually reveal themselves upon inspection. 
A mocking tableau, Water makes up most of the human body embodies Oka's distinctive sense of humour and exploration of overt sexuality.
Join us on Avant Arte on September 15th to be guided through the production process by printmaker Tom. Face Oka will join the event to answer your questions and discuss the edition.

Water makes up most of the human body (blue)
Print

New Soul

Erik Parker's vivid montages synthesise contemporary portraits with the hyper-saturation of modern media.New Soul draws us into the world of a distorted couple, awash with abstract shapes in a mesmerising acid-hued tableau. Art historical references are juxtaposed by gaudy cartoon figures, telling of Parker’s ability to unite a myriad of styles and references. Each print is finished with a unique, hand-painted silhouette and textured gloss, completing Parker’s sensory explosion.

New Soul

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Your questions, answered

Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.