Rain Wolfe in Year 11 has been selected for a prestigious exhibition at The Courtauld Gallery, with her piece that responds to Eduard Manet's painting, The Bar at The Folies Bergeres. Rain made a mask and a powerful installation (which she photographed).  Both the photograph and mask are displayed as part of Reworking Manet, at The Courtauld Gallery from now until Feb 18^th 2024. Here is a picture of the mask and photograph Rain made, and an extract from the accompanying text that she wrote. Congratulations Rain, this is a fantastic acheivement!

Manet’s barmaid was painted with an emotionless expression that frustrated critics of his time. I chose to represent this perceived indifference in the form of a physical mask. When I look at the painting, I see a way of interpreting Suzon’s features not as indifferent, but a carefully arranged ‘mask’ she wears so as not to attract attention. Perhaps Suzon is not indifferent to the man in the reflection but on her guard against him. Such a ‘mask’ has long been worn by women in the service industry where friendliness can too often be mistaken for invitation. Her mask may be a measure of protection and also a resistance against her audience and painter.