“Woman Doubled is a drawing from Approach: a selection of drawings, prints and paintings that fragment the figure. Working on different surfaces, the body has an archaeological feel, a gentle peeling away to reveal. Woman Doubled invites us to question what we see when we look at a person and how this can change through translation into drawing. The figure, drawn from life, challenges a secure identity and gives a feeling of vulnerability. Through my process, figures are repeatedly cropped, doubled, shifted, layered, reworked to make visible the potential to change how we view them. Our reading of images and of each other fluctuates daily; dependent on our mood, our prior knowledge and many other factors. At a time when we are swamped by images of people and our own public image is constantly scrutinized it might seem a strange subject matter choice. But I want you to relook, to slow down your looking, to scrutinize the emotions presented in my work. To feel how it might feel to be this Woman Doubled.

Read more about Ruth Batham.