Over the past two years, artist Louise Clifton has created a series of photographic portraits based around a mysterious figure in a red suit. Clad head to toe in skin-tight material, the red-man is recognisably human but removed of all distinguishing features. A projected portrait of the red-man is central to Clifton's first solo installation, It's a Wonderful Tonight.

Image: Your Bad Self, Louise Clifton (2007)Over the past two years, artist Louise Clifton has created a series of photographic portraits based around a mysterious figure in a red suit. Clad head to toe in skin-tight material, the red-man is recognisably human but removed of all distinguishing features. A projected portrait of the red-man is central to Clifton's first solo installation, It's a Wonderful Tonight.

Image: Your Bad Self, Louise Clifton (2007)Although the characters are recognisably human, their heads are replaced with swollen featureless pods and the image suggests emotions ranging from warmth and vulnerability to distress.

Clifton describes the red-man as a model of "stylistically fanatical design, living in an idealised world of consumer goods. He comes home late at night to his white apartment and feels lost and frustrated - for no reason at all."

Clifton takes a hands-on approach to her portraits, sewing her own costumes and making props. After photographing her subject she alters the image. She says digital technology is "cheap and accessible and it seems to suit my brightly coloured aesthetic".

On Saturday 26 May at 2pm Clifton presents an artists talk at Enjoy in which she will discuss her other portraits of red-suit person and the influence of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama on her work.

The red suit also makes an appearance in Mestar's music video "Konked Out" which is currently being exhibited in Radio with Pictures at the Michael Hirschfeld Gallery.

Several of Clifton's early works have been selected for an upcoming exhibition at The Centre for Contemporary Photography in Brisbane. Entitled Moonshine, the group show also includes New Zealand artists Ben Cauchi, Gavin Hipkins and Yvonne Todd.

When: 24 May - 9 June 2007
Opening Celebration Wednesday 23 May, from 6pm.
Artist talk Saturday 26 May at 2pm
Where: Enjoy, 147 Cuba Street, Wellington