Ivan Posavec & Mary Beale: Portrait of a Woman

Mary Beal and Ivan Posavec - A Portrait of a Woman was an exhibition based on a few significant aspects of the life and work of an English paintress Mary Beale. The exhibition explored the cultural discourses of a museum object – 17th c. painting Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, attributed to Mary Beale, and its performative qualities. We worked with 9 Central European intellectuals, who identified with with Charles II's mistress's role while giving frank testimonials of their intimacy, and photographer Ivan Posavec, who had to put to one side his authentic expression in order to perform the role of a populist 17th c. portraitist.