A Muse is A Muse is a series of self-portraits that are anchored in the concept that a single “decisive moment” can capture the soul of the muse. By thoughtfully pausing, investigating and recreating these vital instances, I am at once the muse, the gazing public and the artist who joins them together.
The series focuses on the unconscious actions that are part of our daily routines- mundane actions that typically go unnoticed. By pausing these quiet moments, in order to recreate them later, I mentally step away and observe myself physically. Doing this forces me to detach myself and simply become the observer. As my inquiry moves forward, the personal becomes a portrayal, an interpretation of reality.
My goal is to suggest a narrative, so that the viewer attempts to find the story behind each tableau, yet no patterns appear to suggest my true nature. At times, my gaze reaches out to the audience, while at others times they are left feeling like a voyeur, leaving the pictures behind with a sense of disappointment; their desire to “know” me unrequited.
The reenactment of original moments clearly draws on the influence of photographers Cindy Sherman, Jeff Wall and Philip Lorca diCorcia. I have, however, adapted the format to suit a more personal purpose. The work is a visual path that leads us to our own private meditations on self-awareness. After all, we are all our own muses, consumed by our perceptions, our appearance and our presence in space.