The purpose of wearing a mask is to portray something different than the real self. Maybe not something entirely different, but something extra. When this project was first assigned, the first question I asked myself was, “For what reason would you wear a mask?” When I reflected on this question, I found that the first answer that came to mind was, “to be more beautiful”. If I was to wear a mask, I would want it to be beautiful. But not the typical image of beauty- something more extraordinary, stunning, exceptional, that would set my apart from the people around me.
In the first photo, my body language, clothing, and even (what you can see of) my facial expression looks natural, relaxed, ordinary. But, the flowers blooming out of my face add something extraordinary. Irony is created through contrast in the second shot. (Flowers, growth, beauty V. dead vegetation, lifelessness, my facial expression.)
I love the startled look on your face, it is very intriguing. It is cool how the background is all dark and your face is the only thing that is lit up. it emphasizes the mask and your eyes. The picture with you in front of the brick wall almost makes it seem as if you are trying to blend into the wall. you are standing up against it with flowers on your face. Disguising. You are great at disguising. Remember that one time we decided to be both be a spy on a scooter. Yeah disguises. Making the ordinary person fascinating. Interesting. I love the pictures a lot. I kinda wanna hang the first one on my wall. Is that strange? I do not really care. Good work. Coffee later today?
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
ReplyDeleteYour explanation of these pictures was completely different than the way I perceived them. I thought they were more ironic than you described them. You said you wear a mask to be more beautiful. Yet I wouldn't say that your mask pictures do that. One of the more interesting elements of your work is the way you photograph yourself. First, because you are terrible photogenic. Second because there is a guilelessness about the way you do that. Your self-portraits play between the two of these and there is something mysterious looking back from the other side that cuts pretty deep.
I saw your mask pictures playing with notions of horror, suburbia, and even 'whiteness' in an ironic, probing, yet honest way. White trash?
I think you photograph with another nature, another part of your psyche that is pretty compelling. I also don't think you quite understand that and how unusual and powerful that can be. Most especially when you work with yourself. I hesitated to say anything before because it all works because I don't think you're conscious of how unique and compelling that is. I was and am afraid that naming it will make you too conscious of it; and that could wreck its power...