My work is born out of an almost obsessive compulsive attitude towards the
understanding of humankind. My quest is to delve into the underworlds
of the personae and assist in the revelation of something unexpected.
As a child, I played a game with my father that involved watching strangers
and speculating about what their life involved. A totally indulgent,
judgmental dissection took place, based on the tiny clues given by the
passing subject. Where did they live? How did they feel? Were they
disillusioned with life? Did they secretly aspire to be someone else? This
practice seemed to instigate an inbuilt anthropological agenda and desire to
understand others and ultimately, myself in their context.
I do not see myself merely as a photographer, but a conduit, or enabler of the
use of the photograph. The concept behind any particular work is the driving
factor and the resultant image is entirely dependant on this. I am interested
in the ‘currency’ of photographs, their value, and in particular, their
freedom of existence in modern technology. Conversely, I see the photograph
as a means of fantastic opportunity, employing technology to create
environments or illustrate the otherwise unobtainable or surreal.
‘Animal’ is a series of portraits of a woman I met on an Internet social site.
Without knowing anything of me, she engaged in sending photographs of
herself, some erotic, some banal. Over a period of nearly two years, I
received 69 pictures before contacting Jane. Fascinated by her character
and the disclosure that she used my offer of contact as an “online
confessional”, I learnt that she, from Italian Catholic descent, was an
‘executive escort’.
Describing her bitterness towards her family’s rejection, disillusion
with relationships and people at large, she prefers the honest company of
animals. A trained vet, eloquent and darkly witty, I wanted to photograph
her in a way to re-establish her engagement with her sexuality, challenge
her occupational feelings and allow her to be the literal “sexual creature”
she so desired.
‘Animal’ references the often sexualised, theatrical and colourful
‘Commedia dell arte’ and the Carnival with the kitsch, ironic charm of the
peep show. Each ‘animal’ acts as a metaphor and represents
characteristics of Jane’s personality as well as the roles she plays
with her clientele. It playfully remarks on her requirement to perform
to her audience and her simultaneous personal need to challenge it.
