mischievous

"The skull portraits are working for me on many different levels. The first self portrait in 1996 was about exploring 'truth' and the disparity between how one appears to others and who one really is inside. The subjects, although very much alive, are always presented within a contextual reminder of death (or momento mori), an inevitable destiny and the end of life's journey. For me its not a morbid thing, more a motivator.

I am no longer specifically interested in exploring themes of identity and fame through the portraits. More recently I have searched for what is of special, universal significance about the subject and communicated that through the action of the subject, by their relationship to their environment and the objects they are wearing or holding. Its no longer a portrait about a person but about what is of most interest and significance about them to me. This is reflected by the titles of the pieces that no longer define the portraits by the subject's name.

I would like the skulls to be both mischievous and profound! For me, they are ultimately a metaphor for Art itself - the longest lasting and most compelling history of human achievement and culture".

Alexander de Cadenet, 2010


Valerie de Cadenet 21.6.96
Valerie de Cadenet 21.6.96

Anna de Cadenet 7.1.98
Anna de Cadenet 7.1.98

The Earl Compton 7.1.98
The Earl Compton 7.1.98

Isabel Goldsmith 23.7.98
Isabel Goldsmith 23.7.98

Chief Birikani of the Maasai 29.10.99
Chief Birikani of the Maasai 29.10.99

Angus James 7.12.99
Angus James 7.12.99

Jewish Rabbi 24.1.00
Jewish Rabbi 24.1.00

Tibetan Buddhist Lama Geshi Tashi 1.2.00
Tibetan Buddhist Lama Geshi Tashi 1.2.00

Kevin Fulton 17.10.01
Kevin Fulton 17.10.01

Dame Stella Rimington

Jake Chapman 19.3.02
Jake Chapman 19.3.02

Dinos Chapman 19.3.02
Dinos Chapman 19.3.02

Mike Skinner 29.9.03
Mike Skinner 29.9.03

Jimmy Cauty 3.3.04
Jimmy Cauty 3.3.04

Labyrinth: The Portrait of Adolf Hitler (completed 05.12.05)
Labyrinth: The Portrait of Adolf Hitler (completed 05.12.05)

"Marital Portrait" Dany and James Ardouin 8.12.05
"Marital Portrait" Dany and James Ardouin 8.12.05

Maxime de Cadenet 23.5.06
Maxime de Cadenet 23.5.06

April Edwards 4.07.08
April Edwards 4.07.08

"The Thinker" 20.11.08
"The Thinker" 20.11.08

Touching the Void 16.3.09
Touching the Void 16.3.09

There is no Beginning or Ending... (Mother and Child)
There is no Beginning or Ending... (Mother and Child)

"The Artist"
"The Artist"

Mother and Daughters (Patricia Gucci) 28.11.09
Mother and Daughters (Patricia Gucci) 28.11.09

The Candle That Burns Twice As Bright....
The Candle That Burns Twice As Bright....