9 images to talk about ‘Me’

In Project 1a, I worked on three tasks, namely: Me, Me interacting with an object that is significant to me, and My World. Each tasks are composed of three images.

 

For task 1, I narrate the sides of me that I usually hide.

 

Me 1
Me 1

In the first image for task 1, I want to express myself in my vulnerable/defensive/introverted state by presenting myself in a crouching position. I implemented the use of long shot to establish distance, to suggest a wall that I put up against others; against their criticism and judgement. I used a narrow crop, giving the space a claustrophobic atmosphere, to express confinement; how I feel trapped within myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me 2
Me 2

In the second image for task 1, I present myself looking out of the frame in a close-up shot. I want to touch on the topic of ‘Fear of judgement’ – not just of others’ but my own judgement too. I wanted to show how outward appearance really makes a huge difference – ‘Will my friends accept me when I remove my makeup?’ I masked myself in a layer of cosmetics so as to hide whatever flaws I see in myself. I want to suggest the space I am in, by looking out of the frame – I am looking at a mirror.

 

 

 

 

Me 3
Me 3

In the third image for task 1, I am revealing my inner self shown through the action of me stripping in a medium close-up shot. Yet the focus is on my reflection in the mirror – ‘What you see is just a reflection of me. Not really me.’

 

 

 

 

 

For task 2, I depicted myself interacting with red chilli(es).

 

Me + Object 1
Me + Object 1

The first image shows a close-up of a chilli composed by placing a shoe box above it to keep it in an upright position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me + Object 2
Me + Object 2

The second image shows a ground angle shot of me stepping on the chilli in a brutal act of dislike towards it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me + Object 3
Me + Object 3

The third image shows me back-facing the chilli, an act influenced by Catherine Opie’s ‘Self-portrait/cutting’, 1993. Similar to Opie, I appear non-confrontational. In my case, I do not want to confront the chillies at the foreground. The chillies are larger than me in perspective to represent how large a threat they are to me. The spiciness of chilli stings and burns my tongue, numbing my senses. I wanted to convey the message that I don’t like chilli, but it is a big challenge I have to live with.

 

 

 

 

 

'Self-portrait/ Cutting', 1993 by Catherine Opie
‘Self-portrait/ Cutting’, 1993 by Catherine Opie

 

Links: http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artwork/30354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For task 3, I chose to share on my hall for it is the ‘world’ I am currently staying at.

 

My World 1
My World 1

The first image depicts the pigeon hole for my room at my hall in a close-up shot. It represents my new identity, an identity that tells me: I am officially free from any restraints set for me by the people close to me, such as a curfew. That also means, I have to be self-reliant and self-disciplined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My World 2
My World 2

In the second image taken with a high-angle shot, I want to show the presence of human habitation observed in the things that we dispose, like newspapers, old socks and clothing. They tell me that I am not alone physically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My World 3
My World 3

However, I feel alone emotionally. My feelings of loneliness can be seen in the third image depicting a round stone table. I feel like I am looking at an empty table even if people sat around it, because they are strangers to me.

 

 

 

 

 

My reflection: All in all, I learnt to make use of various framing and photo-editing techniques such as cropping to bring across my message in every image. In the process of photographing myself, I learnt how to present myself visually in the way I want to see myself. The process required a lot of time and effort in the setting up of equipment and formulating of concepts. I learnt to focus on an idea and not deviate from the message that I want to convey in every image in relation to the tasks. Also, I took a few learning points from my group’s presentation on Catherine Opie’s ‘Self-portrait/cutting’. Through our presentation, I learnt to interpret Opie’s work by breaking down her work visually: Why is she in nude and seen from behind? Why did she photographed her freshly cut skin? What is she trying to convey in her stick-figure drawing of a house and two women holding hands? — that eventually became a skill I put to use when I photographed myself. I asked myself: What kind of posture should I adopt? What kind of action do I want to document? What do I want to convey in my images?

 

Final Presentation for Project 1a:

In my presentation, I deliberately saturated red in every image to emphasize that they are a series. My choice to highlight the red colour was also because red appeared as the most striking colour in every photo. My choice for placement of the images is so that it gives an overall form of a roof. I want to convey the idea that the images are about me under one roof. The following images shows the exhibition area for my final work:

 

Final Presentation for Project (1a)
Final Presentation for Project 1a
I asked my audience to back-face me in participation
I asked my audience to back-face me in participation
Digital copy of intended layout for Project 1a
Digital copy of intended layout for Project 1a

 

 

 

 

 

Author: Ong Xin Hong

Painting is not just a mere documentation of what you see.

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