For art appreciators who balk at going to see work at what is known primarily as a nightclub that hosts former Studio 54 DJs, the latest show at thirtyninehotel cements the venue's standing as one of Honolulu's premier spots to view contemporary art.

"Revisiting Portraiture," thirtyninehotel's first in what will be an annual juried exhibition, is a roundup of just the kind of intriguing work you'd expect from a show curated by Gaye Chan, artist and chair of the department of art and art history at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

In an age when people constantly craft (real and imagined) self-portraits on MySpace and Facebook, the show takes a penetrating look at the age-old genre.

From Mandell Andres' skull X-rays mounted on a light box to April Lee's elegant line drawing of "Steven With Bowie," his long-lashed eyes seducing the viewer (making us presume he seduced the artist), the portraits explore deeper realms of psychology, more subtle expressions of technique, and nuanced layers of representation.

Reach Lesa Griffith at lgriffith@honoluluadvertiser.com.