ODE TO SELF
12 inkjet prints, digital images
each 8.5 x 11 in
2019
This project consists of twelve self-portraits focusing on the textures of my body; hair, pores, scares, lines, wrinkles, crookedness, cracks, and all. As someone who has had a very painful relationship with their body, it is quite frightening to have this work displayed. However, in search of healing, throughout my time here I have been pushing myself to find the beauty in and of my body, the same beauty that I can so easily see in others. By taking self-portraits when I am feeling emotional, insecure, anxious, or otherwise unstable, I am able to capture my body in its most vulnerable state. In addition, due to of my comfort in photography, I am able to see myself differently. During this process, I focus solely on form as a way to sooth my emotions, then upon review and analysis, I can understand and work through the content I was able to create with full authenticity. Through this process, I have found beauty, serenity, and love in the imperfect, the untouched, the dirty, the mutilated, and the messy parts of myself that I have not been able to see past before. I have begun to forgive my body for its past, started to appreciate its present, and even look forward towards its future. This is the beginning of a journey of healing and love between a person and herself.