During the past few years my work has been concerned with questioning identity and consciousness by using constructed personas. This began by exploring roles and stereotypes assigned to individuals on the basis of gender. This evolved into a theme of androgyny and ‘sex without sex’.
As a way to develop these ideas (as well as self-analytical or catharsic motives) various personas are explored: a super-hero called ‘SuperCamp’, the ‘Lace Gimp’, the English Gentleman and the Dandy.
Dandyism and Decadence have been the central influences on recent work involving the decay of photographs. This serves to link the dandy’s self-objectification to photography and Barthes' writings on ‘photo-death’.
The presentation of these ideas has developed technically and conceptually. Working with two dimensional wall based photography, through to video, installation and performance has made me increasingly interested in the way these media can be used, and made to interact. I enjoy the seductive nature of video as both a source of light and shape, and the use of various techniques to manipulate the image.
I realise the extent to which the work is both directly affected by my experience, and how it affects me personally in return. The work has become ritualistic, relating to death rehearsals and religion.