I have been quite industrious this weekend.
I spent a lot of time flipping through my medical records and insurance claims forms, rejection letters and general information about what is wrong with me.
I also spent a lot of time in thought. Thinking about how cancer has changed my life, and my outlook on life. Also what it has done to me physically and emotionally.
During the past year, I have lost a LOT of hair. Never going bald, but getting bald spots. Doctors say there are a couple of factors. Most likely due to stress from 2 serious car accidents,also from my medicines, and my treatments.
I decided that I should incorporate this hair loss into my series somehow. So all weekend I have been taking photographs and playing around with them.
These are some of the results I got.Which ones do you think are successful? What should i press further? what should i change?
I spent a lot of time flipping through my medical records and insurance claims forms, rejection letters and general information about what is wrong with me.
I also spent a lot of time in thought. Thinking about how cancer has changed my life, and my outlook on life. Also what it has done to me physically and emotionally.
During the past year, I have lost a LOT of hair. Never going bald, but getting bald spots. Doctors say there are a couple of factors. Most likely due to stress from 2 serious car accidents,also from my medicines, and my treatments.
I decided that I should incorporate this hair loss into my series somehow. So all weekend I have been taking photographs and playing around with them.
These are some of the results I got.Which ones do you think are successful? What should i press further? what should i change?
5 comments:
Amy,
I am really impressed with how you have combined both of your initial ideas for projects at the beginning of the semester with these photographs. Before I read the text you wrote about these three photographs I was already drawn to the top and bottom ones. The more minimalist ones. I think that they are better images. And relating it to the topic of having cancer I feel that they are still very much so appropriate. In my head, and I think most people who have been fortunate enough to have not personally experienced cancer or who have not known a close family or friend who have gone through this disease, views it as an abstract idea. But from what I have heard people say who have experienced it through someone else or personally they feel that the disease itself is still abstract. It is a slow disease and often you cannot see the actual effects it has on the bodies of the individuals (much like you were describing last class) and that it is more of an emotional disease. (I hope I do not offend by any of this it is just how I have come to understand it through listing to others). I feel it is a smart way of presenting such a complex thing to others. I feel like what I have just typed was probably very confusing for you to understand so if you have specific questions to help clarify it for you please email me.
Fieberta@vcu.edu
remembering your work from a couple years ago this is much different but im intrigued. i havnt listened to you talk about this work and how it evolved into what it is but at the same time, i see the deep impact this life changing condition can have on a person, in your images and the words you have posted.
i like the different intensity levels of color in the images. i also like the difference in how thick the layers (color, hair, etc.) are applied within the images. i think these differences really speak to the ups and downs a person can go through when their life is threatened. i have lost a few family members to cancer and i have seen multiple family friends go through cancer and survive. its is not an easy thing to overcome and its very taxing on a persons life and individual identity, often changing the person and their outlook on life in both positive and negative ways forever. all of the people i have seen affected by cancer were women who went through a great deal of hair loss if not losing it completely. as a woman, hair is a big part of how we identify with ourself and our sexuality. when this is put in jeopardy i feel like it would be extremely easy to lose control. i think by using this as fuel for your series is a tremendous feat and a great way to work through all the emotions im sure you have been going through. i think the differences in your images coincide with the obstacles you may encounter everyday and how you have learned to deal with them. in this sense i think its successful so far, i cant wait to see more and how differently they evolve!
(as allison said, i hope i dont offend you in any way. i am very impressed with your openness and exploration on the subject because i think it is something that can help many women cope (or learn to) around the world.)
First of all I would like to say that even if this is not where you end up it is far more interesting then the other photographs you have taken. I feel this way because these don't feel forced to me. I like the first image especially because it is visually interesting but at the same time I get an uncomfortable feeling about the pain that is associated with cancer. I think it is good to feel a little uncomfortable about your photographs because because the topic is a little unsettling. It is not easy to go through cancer and you are showing us that and at the same time showing you can make work that is interesting to look at.
I forgot to say that I also like the first photograph because I like seeing the detail of each individual strand of hair. Almost like the importance of your hair is heightened when you start to loose it. I would keep thinking like that.
I haven't heard where you started off in your idea but I wanted to comment and tell you that I was immedialty drawn to your work. Before I read what it was about I honestly did not make the connection that it was hair. Maybe I didn't look closely enough but I found the initial abstract and the question of the substance really interesting. I think its incredible that you have been able to use such a painful and life changing experience to create work that references such a fearful part of cancer. Im sure its not the most fearful but as Rachel said, as a woman it is very hard to comprehend the loss of identity and change of our bodies. I think its a a very strong basis for some pretty and powerful work. I feel surprised that no one has discussed the middle photograph. That being the most abstract and least like hair, I think it is m favorite. I love the colors and not knowing immediately that it is in fact hair. I think your series would be stronger to include some were it was unclear. I like the top one because you can see the individual strands, but I think that including some where from far away it would be more of a challenge will draw more people to look deep into your work. Then once they read your statement describing what this project meant to you, they can look again and see something entirely different. I like this duality. As a whole I think youre work is very pleasing. Keep up the good work!
Post a Comment