Painting:The Gaze, in The Flesh
Torild Stray
Te Gaze, In the Flesh
2023
oil on linen
77 x 46 cm
Private Collection
In the Flesh confronts and embraces the human body as a powerful subject matter. The nudes presented in the exhibition transcend mere physicality, engaging with deeper questions of presence, vulnerability, and experience.
Stray’s exploration of gender, identity, and the human condition is subtly interwoven into each brushstroke. While gender is not an explicit theme, it emerges implicitly, inviting reflection and challenging preconceived notions of the nude in art.
Passionate and gestural, Stray’s artistic approach captivates the viewer. Her new series of nudes can be seen in dialogue with historical depictions of the human form. Artists such as Poussin and Rubens employed classical techniques to create intricate and nuanced portrayals, while Bacon and de Kooning explored the body through bold gestures and vivid color to convey psychological intensity.
What sets Stray apart is her ability to weave subtle elements of gender and identity into this tradition. Without becoming overt, these themes surface quietly within the work, expanding and challenging established understandings of the nude.