SELF PORTRAIT HEALTH CLUB BLUES. 1997.

30 x 21cm, pastels on white cartridge paper. Unique drawing by the artist of himself wearing a white vest (colloquially known as a “wife beater” because of its use in the 1950s film A Streetcar Named Desire, where Stanley Kowalski pushes his wife to the ground wearing one). And drying his hair with a towel (although the towel resembles a skirt in the way it is pleated). The work is signed and dated December 1997 and titled “Self portrait Health Club” also in pencil. Collins was obsessed with his physique and attempted to go to health clubs right up to his death. He also regularly wore a white vest such as shown here.