Output details

A Narrated Portrait

A Narrated Portrait is an interactive website developed by Hogan as a result of the AHRC funded ‘Transforming Artist Books’ project, as part of the AHRC ‘Digital Transformations’ theme. Hogan was co-investigator for the project (with Beth Williamson). A Narrated Portrait is housed on the Tate Transforming Artist Books project website: http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/transforming-artist-books/digital-books.

The website, which combines film, sound and an interactive sketchbook, was developed as an investigation into how the process of constructing painted portraits of Anya Sainsbury (nee Linden) could be juxtaposed with sittings at which an oral historian simultaneously developed an audio life story recording. One of the questions that arose was, how could the diverse material be presented coherently? This led to developing a interactive website – ‘A Narrated Portrait 2008 – 2011’, made in collaboration with Armadillo Systems and the British Library’s National Life Story (NLS) Collections. Alongside pages from Hogan's sketchbook, which are presented using the software ‘Turning The Pages’, and her paintings, Hogan incorporated extracts from the NLS recording – which is to some extent also the sitter’s ‘self-portrait’, her life told in her own words - and sections from a film made of one of the sittings by Ed Webb-Ingall. The recording was made between 2008 and 2011, and Hogan attended eighteen of the sessions, each about four hours. She drew and made copious sketchbook notes and painted a study of the sitter’s head on each occasion. Making the portraits became as much about listening as looking. Hearing the sitter speak about her life, observing her expressions, listening to nuances of her voice, to her laughter and to her occasional singing all contributed to the portraiture. The extended time span also meant that Hogan witnessed and documented many small changes – new spectacle frames, different haircuts, seasonal clothes, and jewellery – and could capture varied moods.