I thought that by posting my statement from earlier this year it may help me think about how to revise it before the show (it is not the best piece of writing, it was merely for assessment purposes);
My personal practice focuses on the use of photography, along with certain elements of a performative nature to explore, investigate and work with the areas and themes of the female body and its representation in the areas of fetish, erotica, pin-up and burlesque. I am interested in the way in which the female body and sexuality are used in contemporary art and culture, and what effect this has on the model, the artist and the audience it is intended for.My inspiration and ideas for the work are drawn from looking at areas such as vintage Victorian erotica right through to contemporary fetish photography and bodyscapes. Also the vintage 50s pin-up queens and the glamorous vintage burlesque starlets, leading up to today’s neo-burlesque revival and its new wave of performers. The use and portrayal of the female form and sexuality can clearly be seen in each of these areas, and I am trying to recreate such ideas, but with my own twist and style to it. Through often using myself, and not just other females, as the subject within my images, and by using photography as the main media I am able to create realistic images that concentrate on the body and sexuality. By using myself as the subject so it allows me to start understanding and developing the psychological relationship that I have with my own body. Through exploring this psychological relationship that I have with my own body I am able to explore and push my own boundaries and determine where my comfort lies, and how far I am willing to go. Through using myself as the subject I am able to place myself in the poses and situations, and later on be viewed by an audience. I am therefore able to understand firsthand how this actually makes me feel as a female under both male and female scrutiny.The photographic images bear elements of erotica, fetish and voyeurism. I am interested in the way in which the images are perceived by both male and female viewers, as this is often very different and plays an important and valuable part in the works. The images examine the differences between the sensual and the sexual, the empowering and the degrading and the borderline where art becomes pornographic. The bodyscape images have the anticipation of seeing everything, but in fact seeing nothing. I am aware of the feminist undertones and issues with the work, and as always, with using the female body, but I do not class the work as anti-feminist nor pro-feminist, but more of an exploration of my own opinions on the subject and where I place myself in regards to feminist practice.
