Self

It’s been said that life is a stage, and that all of us are merely players. Most people do tend to see their lives as though they’re the main characters of their own stories, a plot revolving around themselves first and foremost.

I always feel like the side character, the comic relief, the optimistic “friend” who exists solely to either help other main characters through their stories, or someone to be an incidental figure in the background. It’s a harsh mentality, especially when compiled with my struggles with identity in general over time.

I decided to place together a series of images that I feel are rather significant snapshots of my life, photos in which I’m either the main focus in a point in my life, or at least a prominent player. However, much like one of my previous projects, I’ve elected to crop myself out of them. This links to my inability to really connect my own past to now, the confusion that comes with thinking of these large moments as anything more than vague memories, as proof of what’s happened.

I feel as though even without showing my face, there is a definite growth and change to be seen in me through these images. The way I stand, the clothes I wear, and probably most notably the changes of my hair over time. It’s hard to look at myself due to embarrassment or regret sometimes, but placed altogether it gives me almost a sense of pride for how far things have gone.

I’m excited to see what will happen in the future.

References: Francesca Woodman, Fran Carneros, general concept of cutting someone out of a photo