PROPHILIA is an extended series of portrait paintings. Richard Streitmatter-Tran, a Ho Chi Minh based artist, looks to the mediated social world of profile and considers their relation to the long tradition of portraiture painting. Using social media networks, he solicits profile images as initial references. He strips off their meta information and contextual tagging. He then paints portraits that transform the subjects - and in many cases, returns an image of the final paintings to the original posters.

Painting on an absorbent ground in watercolour and gouache on metal plates and woks, these ubiquitous items found throughout Vietnam often resembling reflecting mirrors. The artist searches for a connection between the immateriality of electronic screen-based lives with the material objects of everyday life.

The title PROPHILIA is an invented word bringing together the words “profile” and “philia” which means the love of something.

Made possible with the support of La Lanta Fine Art (Bangkok) and Vin Gallery (Ho Chi Minh City)