Book Description
Dumas cultivated a unique position within the world of figurative painting beginning with
expressive drawings of human figures -powerful figurative works that explore themes of
gender, identity, sexual and ethnic violence, and oppression. In the paintings there is always
clear interplay between image and spectator: her models give the impression of observing,
rather than being observed. Suspect, the title of this exhibition and catalog, is just as
wonderfully ambiguous; the show undermines preconceived notions about victims and
executioners while adding to the pool of doubt the idea that these images themselves
might be "suspect ".
The catalog features Dumas ' recent works as well as a series created specifically for her
exhibition. The book includes a long interview with the artist and a collection of her writings.
expressive drawings of human figures -powerful figurative works that explore themes of
gender, identity, sexual and ethnic violence, and oppression. In the paintings there is always
clear interplay between image and spectator: her models give the impression of observing,
rather than being observed. Suspect, the title of this exhibition and catalog, is just as
wonderfully ambiguous; the show undermines preconceived notions about victims and
executioners while adding to the pool of doubt the idea that these images themselves
might be "suspect ".
The catalog features Dumas ' recent works as well as a series created specifically for her
exhibition. The book includes a long interview with the artist and a collection of her writings.
About the author
Marlene Dumas was born in 1953 in South Africa and moved to Holland in 1976 where she studied painting and, later, psychology. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and the United States, including Venice Biennale XLVI, Documenta IX, and ICA of Philadelphia. Her most recent exhibition in 2002 was a major drawing retrospective organized by the Centre Pompidou, Paris and The New Museum, New York.
