‘Portrait of a Woman’ by Patrick Van Daele, is a celebration of art and life in a series of 35 photographic portraits featuring actress and contemporary dancer Kathy Cogill.

The spontaneous collaboration between two creative minds, the fusion of photography and performing arts and the long honored tradition of Artist and Model, all combine to create a healthy alternative to the many meaningless ways in which women are portrayed by contemporary popular media.

Portrait of a Woman is an exhibition inspired by many diverse sources such as mythology, western culture, religious themes, art historical references, ancient legends, the 20th century, and post feminism themes.

Portrait of a Woman was shot over 7 shooting sessions in April/May 2003 using the many defunct war bunkers located around Sydney Harbour and Port Botany, which provided an idyllic stage.

As a work in progress 3 sub themes emerged, which can be loosely defined as: character portrayals with psychological meaning, choreography portraying figures of mythology, and physical display of strength and beauty.

A self-taught photographer, Patrick Van Daele published his first book in 1997 called: A spirit of Progress, Art Deco Architecture in Australia.

The photographs from this book earned him his first major exhibition in 1999 based on the books theme at the Museum of Sydney.

In 2002 Patrick once again had a major solo exhibition at Museum of Sydney entitled Harbour and Ocean Pools, an exhibition of evocative and timeless images.

Tired of photographing stagnant objects Patrick Van Daele has therefore switched subjects and has begun photographing people of which Portrait of a Woman is the result.