Duff House #2; Duff House #5
Duff House #2, 2000
Duff House #5, 2000
by Ross Sinclair (b.1966)
In 1994 the Scottish artist, Sinclair had the words âReal Lifeâ tattooed on his back. Since then he has appeared in numerous photographs in different locations, always naked from the waist up, with shaven head and wearing tartan shorts. In this way he makes direct use of his identity to provoke questions and reactions from the viewer.
Here he is seen in Duff House, a grand, Baroque country house owned by the National Galleries of Scotland in Aberdeenshire. Sinclair deliberately plays on the tension his presence creates in this lavish, distinctive setting.
His pose, with back to the audience and face hidden, suggests that he wants to remain anonymous, and to stress his role as representative of âa typeâ. The prominent âReal Lifeâ tattoo meanwhile raises wider questions.What is âreal lifeâ? Whose âreal lifeâ is shown? Is âreal lifeâ seen in the picture?
In this way Sinclairâs work can be read as a simple yet powerful comment on the class based divisions that have historically characterised British society. Until the advent of photography in the mid 19th century, portraits were the exclusive domain of the wealthy, acting as possessions to further convey the sittersâ identity in the form of status and social standing.
C-Type Prints
Purchased through the Contemporary Art Society Special Collection Scheme with Lottery funding from the Arts Council England, 2001
