“Battle of the Carmens” by Artist Ellen R Hanson

A series of paintings on stretched textile by artist Ellen R Hanson. Hanson received her BA in Painting and Art History at Bennington College in 2014 and MFA in Painting and Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021. Her work probes the performance of femininity: the resilience hidden beneath the veneer of fragility, the clockwork domestic routines that cloak complex inner lives, and the choreographed displays of elegance that must be scrubbed of the strife that underlies them. Hanson’s process involves sketching first in charcoal on elastic jersey cotton, then pulling the underpainting on fabric to create distortions in the figure. Literally stretched thin, the exaggerated figures are then painted over in oil, smoothed of all brushstrokes, and adorned with hints of decoration, creating the impression of a perfect surface. The result is a reflection of the contradictions of our constructed notions of womanhood: frustration, frivolity, and the failure to live up the an impossible ideal.

In “Battle of the Carmens,” Hanson takes on the media-driven rivalry between Katarina Witt and Debi Thomas at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Both figure skaters chose Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen to skate to, an unusual coincidence that set the stage for direct comparisons and commentary. The project also references Laurie Dann, a woman with an indirect connection to Debi Thomas, who carried out a shooting just a few months after the Olympics that same year. Stretched and manipulated, Hanson’s paintings highlight the distortions of reality and history: the tension between internal expectations and external judgment, and the looming threat of unraveling under the pressure of perfection.

Take your watercolor artistry to new heights with the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, now available for only $61.82, a fantastic 46% off its original price! With over 7,971 ratings and a 4.7-star average, this set, which includes 45 vibrant half pans, is a must-have for both beginners and experienced artists.

Whether you’re working on landscapes, portraits, or abstract creations, the professional-grade pigments provide rich, lasting color that brings your work to life. Don’t miss out, order now for only $61.82 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!