Petrina Hicks

Hicks, P 2013, Venus The Shadows, Pigment Print, 200cm x 100cm

I feel a special connection with Petrina Hicks works for a few reasons; One is our similar backgrounds in commercial photography and using these skills in an art practice is very important to maintain.
The power of being able to create what looks to be a harmonious image through slick lighting and retouching but then at a closer look through concepts / themes is a skill unique I feel to an artist who understands the 'language' of commercial photography. It's important to me to harness the years of work in commercial and manipulate it into my art practice.
The second reason interest is her use of objects as symbols. Here the shell is used as a symbol of fertility - I'm looking at using animals as symbols.

Hicks, P 2011, Serpentina Pigment, Print 100 x 100cm

One aim for creating my next body of work is AMBIGUITY. The message doesn't always have to be loud and clear - I'm sick of thinking this way - one down side of only working commercially is that I seem to slip back to the; loud and clear.
This image is a reminder that; using symbols like the serpent, can allude to meaning but is still up to interpretation AND I like covering the eyes which is essentially covering up where the viewer looks to for visual answers.
The milky, soft lighting can also be strongly noted. It almost matches the skin of the model to give a sculptural feel - stunning!

Hicks, P 2005, Shena And Jade, Lightjet Print, 119 x 111cm

Similarly to the image above I am interested in the symbolism and ambiguity however, the more I research and critique her work the more I am drawn to the simplicity of the single portrait, cropped tightly to fill the frame. It brings up interesting thoughts for me as I have been leaning towards the more elaborate 'scene' type tableau however the beauty in simplicity of the singular portrait, I wonder is more powerful.... I think I need to try both...

Hicks, P 2008, Lambswool, Lightjet Print, 119 x 119 cm

Again the interest with this image is use of evading the view if the subjects eyes and then adding tension through juxtaposing the child with a wolf like dog gnawing at her arm.

Hicks, P 2003, Lauren, Lightjet Print, 120 x 100cm

I'm mostly interesting in the lighting technique is this image and how it gives a almost science fiction, hyper realism feel to the image.

Hicks, Petrina 2010, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Lightjet Print, 100 x 100cm

This and the below image are referenced more so for the use of making an image to a phrase, as in the title.
It's a clever way to accompany extra images into an overall show.

Hicks, P 2010, Blood Is Thicker Than Water, Lightjet Print, 100 x 100cm