an invitation to dance

2021

Radical. Courtesan. Legend.

The life of Lola Montez transcends truth and slips into desiring myth. A radical and mercurial figure Montez exceeded prescribed parameters of femininity and ignored limits and existing conventions controlling women’s bodies. Montez toured Australian gold rush towns during the 1850s as a performer—and was notably the first woman ever photographed smoking.

Drawing upon Montez’s own use of photography to promote her self-image, Shelton has created this new series of works. An Instagram feed - @elizagilbertandlolamontez - allows audiences to engage with archival material relating to Montez.

Commissioned by Photo Australia and the Metro Tunnel Creative Program for PHOTO 2021.

1-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton-clean — *Bad eyes (yellow rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

2-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton — *She dragon (orange rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

3-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton — *Flash dance (red rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

4-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton — *Selfie (pale green rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

5-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton-clean — *Spider woman (dark pink rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

6-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton — *The vapouriser (pink and white rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

7-an-invitation-to-dance-ann-shelton — *Smoke sham (pink variegated rose)*, 2021. Pigment print, 840 × 1119 mm.

photo-2021-ann-shelton-metro-tunnel-creative-program-image-credit-james-henry-20210220_0548 — *an invitation to dance*, installation view, Photo 2021, Metro Tunnel Creative Program, Melbourne. Photograph by James Henry.