Poppy (after John Hoppner's painting of Anna Isabella Milbanke)
St. James is currently a senior lecturer at Camberwell College of Art in London. His exploration of video as a creative means of expression has led to his work being exhibited both nationally and internationally.The Ferens also has in its collection an earlier video work, The Ark, which is a collaborative work by St. James and the artist, Anne Wilson (b.1955) Poppy is the result of a commission from the Ferens for St. James to produce a video piece inspired by a work in the gallery's historic collection.The piece conveys the artist's response to John Hoppner's (1758-1810) painting, Anna Isabella Milbanke, and focuses on a little girl, full of excitement and expectation but also restricted by the formal conventions of 18th century portrait. The artist has endeavoured to capture the innocence and naivety of both girls, together with the atmosphere of the landscape setting which drew St. James to the Hoppner painting in the first place. The sitter for the video portrait is the artist's six year old daughter, Poppy Wilson-St. James. The artist's empathy for Anna Isabella Milbanke evolves through his own experiences as the father of a young girl. St. James' family - and himself - are often the subjects for his work and on this occasion Poppy was tempted to participate through the promise of a new dress for the occasion.
