Local Artist’s Debut Exhibition Opens Friday

Local artist, Joanna Stapff, today [June 4] announced the opening of her debut exhibition at Bermuda Society of Arts, City Hall, on Friday [June 7] in the Onions Gallery entitled “Bloß, Bloom & Bliss.”

“Bloß is a German word pronounced “bloss” and means naked, bare, relating to the fact that this is a bold and vivid showcase of female nude paintings, but also that by putting on a public showcase, Joanna is baring her inner soul, passion and creativity”, a spokesperson said.

“The word Bloom is a reference to age and that she and her subjects are in their thirties, a pivotal stage in life that Joanna interprets as a time to finally unravel our pure abilities, deviate from expectations and flourish with vigour.

“The word Bliss was selected to represent that from the ability to bloom, one can find their happiness. Joanna and her subjects share their own individual skills with others in so many ways, which aids in their conquest for Bliss.

“Each of the subjects holds a connection to Bermuda either by being born on the island or now being resident here as an expatriate. A Bermudian herself, Joanna wanted to use her first show to explore the unique qualities and value that individuals bring to Bermuda regardless of their nationality and to narrow the often perceived gap between locals and expats.”

Joanna explains: “There is a lot of division in our community and I wanted to use this show to promote unity and appreciation of others. I am Bermudian and proud to count both Bermudians and expats among my close friends. I know some wonderful people who all contribute so much to life in Bermuda.

“The idea behind the show was that I select some of these great women to model nude for me and lay bare who they are, their inspiring energy and what they stand for. It is also a celebration of diversity as these women are from all walks of life and backgrounds – they include a banker, an entrepreneur, a vet and a teacher.

“I took the unusual decision to include within the paintings artefacts that identify my subjects. Often nudes are anonymous and intangible, but I wanted the audience to be able to connect with the raw, sometimes hidden, person inside not to just see the body. These are not just naked women, they are all fantastic personalities.”

Joanna draws artistic inspiration from Lucian Freud, Andrew Wyeth and Egon Schiele, who each had a fascination with the figurative form. The beauty and impact of Bermuda’s landscape are also a present theme in her work.

Joanna is hosting a public opening reception at the gallery from 5.00pm until 7.00pm when DJ Chelsea will hit up the turntables to heighten this artistic experience. Goslings has created a stunning signature cocktail for the occasion to embody the theme. “Bloß, Bloom & Bliss” runs until June 30.

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