Performalist self-portraits

“I made a book of photos of the images from this series, with the big pumpkin photo on the front of the book, wrapping around to the back. So in the front you have my naked body squinting in the sun, and the back is this pumpkin.” – SMW.

“Instead of facing nature, following the classic Friedrich-ian tradition, you face the camera intently. Why?” – AC. “An interesting question. I suppose it has to do with the face and the significance of the front of the body as opposed to the back. The eyes, the mouth, the nose... especially the eyes… I have always found my face and head rather problematic or inconsistent in the way they look. But it seemed a natural decision to face the camera, because the face is the most expressive part of the body and provides interest, for better or for worse.” – SMW.

“Water evaporates and can be contained…” – SMW.

“Actually moving my body to clean etc. feels difficult, arduous, scary even. When I was growing up my dad cleaned more than my mom I think, which had various reasons very particular to our family. My dad is a retired blue collar worker and he never shied away from doing things with his hands. Getting dirty and greasy etc. Hard labor. It seemed meditative to him.” – SMW.

GSA inventorying session – 10.09.20. “I was a bad vegan.” – SMW.