Artist Statement - Mannequin Series

My photographs are metaphors for the invisible presence I experience when meditating or while being fully present in the moment. In this particular “mannequin series,” I am attempting to give my images a sense of implied life and presence. I have taken lifeless mannequins, shells of human beings, and transformed them into photographs that address the ancient question of what is reality and what is illusion. In addition to exploring the line between illusion and reality, I am also exploring the line in some of these photographs between the male and female principle (androgyny) and also the effect of beauty on human perception. I do this not just by creating a strong illusion and/or a sense of personality/character, but also by creating a dynamic aesthetic visual experience. The visual elements and content implied by the images integrate aesthetically to create the pulse of my artwork.