Artist Statement

The images comprised in my series, Separately Together, are autobiographical, personal and honest. They hold a voyeuristic nature, which reveals their ambiguity making the viewer have a sense of not knowing and then knowing. The ambiguity is empowered by the obscuring of the face, leaving the figure questionable and the audience in question. My intention for the promiscuous nature of the images is to confuse and demand time from the viewer to look past what is on the surface. I hope to create a tension that is echoed by the predominance of the human figures and the uncanny composition. The images are to raise emotions such as uncertainty, suspicion, and voyeurism about two particular figures. Through the portrayal of a filmic narrative, I am shifting the emphasis onto the viewer, forcing them to bring their own assumptions and misconceptions to the narration. The awkward poses and unusual postures allow a certain kind of vulnerability and intimacy, which creates a curious underlying relationship between the audience and the photographs. The particular pairing the final images will have will allow them to collaboratively work together strongly as a series but at the same time, they will not be dependant of each other. This pairing will let the viewer know that more than one person is involved within the frame, which can lead to different forms and guises of reactions, such as skepticism, insecurity, and exploitative tensions. Through these reactions, the fascination of observation is exposed, as the images hold interests that compel the viewer to want to look and see and ultimately the viewers themselves become the narrators.

Anderson Gallery

Jacquelyne Images

These are some images I have been working with right now. I have more and plan to take a lot more. My whole concept is based off of a narrative, but not one in particular. I want the audience to somehow be able to relate to what is going on in the photographs or somehow put themselves in that position. However, I am trying to make the images speak to the audience in some way, shape or form. I want there to be some sort of narration that gives off a voyeuristic emotion within the viewer. Right now, the images do not really separate themselves from a one moment. I am continuing to shoot more and more so the final prints give a sense of time lapse and not look like they were taken over a course of a few days. I started using only myself, but when I brought another figure into the photographs, the narration I wanted to achieve started to show. I still have some questions on presentation and how the feel of the overall images. I am thinking about printing them large and having some close together while others are more spread about the wall. I want them to have a loud feeling but not overpower the viewer. So my question is, how should I present them? Would they work big? And what about having some black and white? I posted the sky pictures because I wanted to incorporate photographs with the figures that represent them as individuals. the sky photographs were the first I took, but I plan on maybe doing some illustrations or taking more "detail" images that would work together and separately with the original images. Basically, I want the narration to have a progression that portrays the individuals. So any ideas or suggestions would be helpful...

Elinor Carucci

LOCATING INTIMACY: THE SPACE BETWEEN
This show explores the space(s) of desire, engaging viewers in contemplation of spectatorship, exhibitionism, and fantasy. The work included lies on a continuum from empty to occupied spaces, ranging from empty "fantasy rooms" to abandoned sites of sexual encounter, from recontextualized pornographic stills to dislocating corporeal projections. Revealed in the work is the topography of sexual desire and the explicit construction of intimate zones. Intimacy, itself, is revealed to be a diverse construction, sometimes unearthed by the camera, while at other times created by it. In every case, intimacy is represented as a spatialized relationship between two or more subjects, be they on or off, in front of or "behind" the camera.

After Todd Hido showed me Elinor Carucci's work, I fell in love with her and her images, especially her series "Closer." Hido is actually friends with Carucci and was explaining to me her work process and somewhat her thinking process. I completely admire Carucci and how she portrays such intimacy through her images. That is what I am striving and hopefully one day will successfully do. She reveals the bare layer of her being as well as the people around her. She does not try to hide anything or stage the events in which are happening, which is amazing to me. To capture such beautiful and revealing images in truly something to look up to. I feel like she is the first artist I can actually relate to after reading her artist statement about "Closer." She talks about how you can never mix up or interfere art with life and that the beauty of it all should be exposed. Although some may not believe this and are more reserved to the fact that modesty is admirable, I completely agree with her and now it is up to me to make others believe as well. Seeing someone in person and then that same subject behind the lens gives off a complete dimension to their existence and I feel like that is why I put myself in front of the camera. Not necessarily to be noticed or because it is convenient but because it is part of my existence to reveal what others may never reveal about themselves. I am lending myself to world of art that has always had reservations in exploring. I want to be successful in the ambiguity, intimacy, closeness and confusion in discovering the nuances I may not otherwise see.

Marianne Mueller Images

Marianne Mueller

Marianne Mueller's series "A Part of My Life" was shown to me by Todd Hido. She is one of the first artists Hido introduced me to. After looking at her work over and over again, I feel so compelled to continue with what I am doing but take it to the next level. She takes very abstract photographs of her life and aspects surrounding it. Her images are simple but hold value and truth to them because of the complexity the subject holds. I love her work because it does not just focus on photographs. She explores herself and others in a multitude of ways...through videos, diptychs, drawings, etc. Her series "Combine" is probably my favorite of hers and has been the most inspiring. In that series she combines photographs kind of like the ones seen in "A Part of my Life" but she proceeds to show a line drawing of some sort paired with it. The feeling that these diptychs give me is overwhelming. I think it is because I feel like she is so good and I want to be like her or the fact that I have always wanted to include some other form of art with my photographs and to see it actually played out so beautifully is amazing to me.

"COMBINE (kom'bain) explores a way of looking at the world that manifests itself once you leave behind the orders of chronology, subject matter, and memory. I depart from my own archive and its structure and start to combine images taken in various contexts. There are mirror effects, doublings, contrasts, a kind of caleidoscope disrupting linear time, its parallel and sequential logic. An abstract fiction starts to emerge from my visual vocabulary." -Marianne Mueller

Artist Lecture: Todd Hido

I was fortunate enough to meet with the visiting artist, Todd Hido, this past month. Meeting with him opened my eyes to many new artists and concepts found in my work. I realized certain things about my work that I never once thought of before until he spoke to me. After showing him all my work and what I have done the past two years, he could tell right off where I was heading and the direction I wanted to go in. He told me that through it all, there was definitely a sense of narration showing through and even though I have used the body and form in much of my work, it all told a story. He was referring to much of my recent work, which I feel the closest to. Getting into narrative photography last semester has helped me develop something more deep and personal in my images that I never thought would appear in my work. And it really was not until I met with Todd that I really thought this about my work. You never really think your work is good until told by someone higher up and hearing it from Todd really inspired me to continue with what I am doing. I was in a rut and still kind of am in a rut with what I am doing, but I feel like I have more sense of direction and knowing of where I am going. Todd introduced me to many photographers whom he thought reminded him of me, which I am very fortunate for. After leaving my meeting with Todd I felt very inspired not only by his words, but his work and the work of other photographers he showed me.

Most Recent