IDENTITY AND INNER SELF

IDENTITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Image Text Analysis/
Concepts and Themes

We have been given a brief to produce a series of images that will be shown in our Christmas exhibition in mid December. We have also been shown lectures about key ideas to think about relating to these images, which are Identity, Documentary and The environment. I have decided to explore the idea of Identity but with the influence of the environment.

'Inner Self'

I am going to experiment using my own figure rather my 'self'  as an anomynous person representing an 'inner self' that anyone can possess. In an environment where you are/ are not used to or feel comfortable with, which allows you to 'drop your social face'. I would also like to explore the idea of a an open or closed space suggesting somewhere you feel free or restricted in your own body.

'Wanting to be yourself' but you can't always do that in some situations or environments so I will explore different environments to portray this idea.

I will use a long exposure- allowing my body to become 'possessed' by my 'inner self' creating movement spontaneously and also disguising my face to remain an anonymous figure.

Here is my work so far:
Taken on my Canon 600D SLR camera
2-3 seconds exposure time
F/18-22
ISO 400
I have also found out in the process of this work (long exposures) you need relatively low light for this effect to happen.

Manydown

I have chosen this location because it's quite a quite area of the town, It's a place called Manydown farm which is located in Basingstoke, where I live. This is a place where I have been a few times where I have gone for long walk for about an hour, (With other people) It is also a place that is threatened by the council, who want to build upon it, to create more housing, which I feel would be devastating and a big loss to those already living in the area. I shot in the woodlands, as an idea of constriction and restraint inside your mind, but it could also represent a place where you feel alone.

I have chosen to make self- portraiture work, not because of vanity or because I enjoy looking at myself like some people would argue, but because I feel it is a way of expressing emotion and as above, Identity. I also use myself as an element of convenience, because although I don't see myself as a portraiture artist, I find it easier to 'work with myself' than other people, and trying to find a model quickly and relevant to my project is pretty tough going. Basically I know what I want and I can easily instruct myself to do it. When I produce self portraits it is normally to do with femininity and expression.

The Bedroom

Here is my second location, The bedroom, which is used loosely because it's not meant to be just about me, but also everyone else who can relate. The movement I felt reflects your actions and the way you move about in a place you feel you can be your self, where no one is looking, or there's no existence of the 'outside world'. The blurring of the body creates this non existent 'outer' body but leaves a trace of your 'inner' body.

So far I have been influenced by a few artists, those being Francesca Woodman and Deborah Turbeville mainly because of their experimental approach to female portraiture and obviously Woodman's Self Portraits and long exposures which are really inspirational. Also Duane Michals and his surrealist approach to his work, for example 'The Illuminated Man' which shows a portrait of a man with a 'light-bulb' like head, looking at the idea that you can look at the figure in a different light. I have written a piece on Francesca Woodman, check it out you may see where my influences lie a little!

The Vyne

Double Exposures

These images I feel are quite successful in terms of them showing a surreal like figure or presence. I also think they're quite spooky which I think adds to the effect. I have experimented with double exposures as well by producing two under-exposed images in the same place and then in post-production you merge the two together to create a properly exposed image with two different subjects in one. I love how this creates un-canny views and mysterious effects.

I will keep you updated. Please give me feedback on my work, would love to hear from you!