Sara Berman

“Askance” shows one of Sara Berman’s infamous female characters, her arms sternly placed in a posture of defiance. Her gaze is to the right of the viewer – what draws her gaze is a mystery. In her darkly-eyelined eyes we see suspicion and perhaps some mistrust. Her black nails and sharp dark bob are in contrast with her soft checkered blouse. The work begins with the motif of a harlequin. When rendered in male form, this character is a lovable joker, dressed in a diamond-patterned costume. However, the same character as a woman becomes a “trickster whore.” Berman aims to dismantle this double standard. “These paintings are very much about claiming presence as a person, as a woman. There’s a slight arrogance to them which I like because taking space is an act of necessary selfishness.” At the same time, the soft colour palette and playful approach to composition conveys a sense of joy.

Check out our Art Fix interview with Sara Berman where you can learn more about this work, its title and why she’s committed to portraying females in strong daring poses.