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Donna Bianco II

Artist: Wells, Charis Edward · b. 1986

Donna Bianco II

The work is one of a series of still shots taken by the artist by way of documenting an art happening in her home town of Elgin and inspired by Romany…

The work is one of a series of still shots taken by the artist by way of documenting an art happening in her home town of Elgin and inspired by Romany beggars witnessed during her stay in Florence. Two actor friends of the artist dressed as these beggars, their faces painted white and dressed in pseudo-bridal dresses, and were recorded as they went to different areas in Elgin town centre and engaged with locals.

The artist is producing a series of 8 films each relating directly to Dante’s Inferno which provided the inspiration to this area of work and which she has translated into Scots.

In this image the two beggars sit on the steps of the west end portico of St.Giles’ Church, designed by Archibald Simpson in 1828, which dominates the centre of High Street, Elgin. The women hold their begging cups and bouquets in their hands and gaze westwards. RSA 2016.207.3 was shot further east along the High Street at its junction with Commercial Street. Donna Bianco effectively translates as Woman in White, famously the title of a novel by the English author, Wilkie Collins, first published in 40 parts between 1859-11-26 and 1860-08-25, but which has no direct relevance to the present work.

An audio recording made during John Kinross Scholars Portfolio meeting 2016-05-17 is on J:SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS/JOHN KINROSS SCHOLARSHIP/ 2015 Scholars (2016 Deposit)/ Wells, Charis Edward.

© Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture