Shelf LIfe
Bronwyn Hill
- Sitter: Bronwyn Hill
- Medium: Oil on Board
- Dimensions: 90 x 90 cm
- Representation: Lethbridge Gallery
- Category: Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists
About the artwork
“Shelf Life” is a self-portrait that captures a moment of reflection. After turning 30 and going through some big life changes, introspection has been a recurring feature in Hill’s recent work, a feeling that has been amplified during the social restrictions of 2020.
About the sitter
This piece is a self portrait.
About the artist
Bronwyn Hill was born in 1989 and is a Brisbane based painter. Predominantly focusing on portrait and figurative work, Hill is recognized by her photo-real oil paintings that follow a narrative that explores self-analysis and introspection, often inspired by moments in solitude.
“The title 'Shelf life' is a reference to something previous work colleagues would say jokingly; that 30 years old is shelf life for a woman.”
Behind the scenes
The title ‘Shelf life’ is a reference to something previous work colleagues would say jokingly; that 30 years old is shelf life for a woman.
The idea of a woman’s value having a time limit resonated with me and came back to mind at 28 after my marriage ended. The following years have seen most of my friends having children, marrying and buying houses and with the 2020 restrictions, there has been ample time to reflect on what I actually want in life.
The painting is personal, set in the bedroom with underwear to further express the privacy of the moment. The figure from the outside doesn’t appear aged since 30 isn’t that old in the view of society, but the reflection can tell that something has changed.
