A Dundee University student has revived the ancient practice of miniature portrait painting to explore the modern way we maintain relationships through smartphones.
Emily Stewart, a fine art student, painstakingly painted a series of small-scale portraits of family, friends and other acquaintances.
The paintings measure just 7x5cm, the size of the screen on the iPhone 4s which she used to contact each of the subjects and acquire their image.
Emily, 22, then laser-cut plastic mounts to the exact size and scale of her phone and placed the portrait in the position where the screen would appear on the device.
The size and scale of these portraits recall the tradition of miniature paintings popular from the 16th century as a way of feeling connected to loved ones in their absence.
Eleven of the intricate portraits appear as the centrepiece of Emily’s exhibit at the art, design and architecture degree show.
Emily said: “My work examines identity, our condition as social animals and how we are defined by our connections to other people.”
“I became fascinated with the way relationships are shaped by our phones, which then become both objects and conduits of identity.
“Everyone has asked me if this is about the selfie culture but it is deeper than that.”
Emily’s work can be seen at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design building until Sunday.
