| Graphic-novel styling meets fine-art sensibility in the work of Eve Poland, a UK-based painter and printmaker whose bold imagery celebrates sexual subcultures and feminine power. Eve Poland’s “kinky ladies” acrylic paintings celebrate the beauty and power of women through images intended to be both naughty and nice—an accessible, tongue-in-cheek take on erotic art. “The phrase ‘erotic artist’ is not one I would ever use to describe myself. The kinky ladies, although sometimes naked, often sexually commanding, and always, by inference, in an erotically charged scene, are not in themselves erotic and are not intended to perform a pornographic function (though, hey, it takes all sorts—just think of all the men who fantasise about Jessica Rabbit…). |
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Brighton-born Eve Poland exhibited a solo show, The Seven Deadly Sins, at Núa in Brighton, U.K., in May 2008.
Eve Poland, Octopussy, 2008. Ink and acrylic on paper, 20 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the artist.Graphic-novel styling meets fine-art sensibility in the work of Eve
Poland, a UK-based painter and printmaker whose bold imagery celebrates
sexual subcultures and feminine power.Eve Poland’s “kinky ladies” acrylic paintings celebrate the
beauty and power of women through images intended to be both naughty
and nice—an accessible, tongue-in-cheek take on erotic art.“The phrase ‘erotic artist’ is not one I would ever use to describe
myself. The kinky ladies, although sometimes naked, often sexually
commanding, and always, by inference, in an erotically charged scene,
are not in themselves erotic and are not intended to perform a
pornographic function (though, hey, it takes all sorts—just think of
all the men who fantasise about Jessica Rabbit…). But I don’t mind when
I see myself described as an erotic artist. In many ways I’ve exploited
the label and enjoyed a success I might never have achieved if I’d
entered the art market via other means. I’ve certainly had more
marvellously peculiar offers and experiences, met more warm and
wonderful weirdos and had a lot more fun than I might otherwise have
had!I guess you could say many of the artists I admire—Aubrey Beardsley,
Leonora Carrington, Leonor Fini, Fernand Khnopff, Odilon Redon,
screenprinter Jay Ryan and graphic-novel illustrators Enrico Marini and
Hippolyte—create pictures which seem to be part of a narrative, whether
directly or indirectly. I’m always drawn to a good story. I like to
think my pictures create a frozen slice of time on which a story can be
imposed to suit the desires of the viewer.I feel an empathy with the Scottish artist Craigie Aitchison. His
paintings show an austerity in their sparseness of subject—usually just
one central person or object in a background uncluttered to the point
of childishness—but are enriched by his fabulous abilities as a
colourist. The distraction of too many ‘things’ in a picture is not
something that appeals; I would rather make a background of fantastic,
pure deep blues and greens just for the beauty of it than feel I ought
to fill it with a few chairs or a bit of background scenery.I want to create something that will make people smile to
themselves—to make images which are cheeky, fun, and a bit naughty,
certainly, but nothing that would frighten your granny. My grandmother
always claimed to be shocked by what she called my mother’s “neurotic”
pictures—a series of antique nude prints by Botticelli. It makes me
smile to think she has a granddaughter who is a neurotic artist.”Eve is currently collaborating with bespoke tailor Gresham Blake on a
range of silk accessories featuring her kinky ladies. She is also
featured in The Guild of Erotic Artists Book (Volume 2), which was
published this summer.
