Anthony Green: The Life and Death of Miss Dupont

Touching small exhibition at the Royal Academy focusing on a work which Anthony Green has finished recently telling the story of his mother’s second marriage through his eyes as her 13 year old child. He has been working on it since she died in 2004.

The work itself is a life sized figure of his mother, the Miss Dupont of the title, incorporating her mink coat, handbag and scarf. Her room and possessions radiate out from her. It is an irregular shape and the section at the top, presumably representing the upstairs of the house, includes surprisingly sexy pictures of his mother and step-father. I love the way both the upstairs and downstairs images include reflections of his mother in a mirror. The picture shows a real tenderness for her as well as an understanding of her.

The exhibition also had sketches for the work and other objects from his mother. One display cabinet had her marriage certificates plus her divorce papers from the artist’s father and the divorce papers of his step-father.  It also had other works based on his mother’s life such as “Mrs Green Escaping into the Arms of Lobster Merchant Mr Jocelyne” which is based on a clock with a picture of his father shocked by the fact his mother has had the courage to leave while a naked figure of his mother flies out of the top of the clock.

Closes on 30 April 2017

 

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