Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Some insight


Self portrait (2006)


Self Portrait (2001)

So here is an insight into my mind and my photographic work. My images are my voice, to explore my place in the world, as a disabled woman, and artist, and so in that sense they are rooted to a profoundly personal place within me. At the same time, although these images could be construed as mere self portraits, they are in fact speaking of the wider concerns of disability, desirability, body image and difference. I begun this work years ago, using myself as the model because it was convenient, but quickly realised that in telling my story, or hinting at it, I was reflecting back and perhaps challenging society's perception of the 'ideal'. I have continued making images with this always in mind. This fall I will be collating much of my imagery together to form a complete body of work, and it is my hope to share some of this with you in the weeks and months ahead, with few unrelated photographic and creative wanderings thrown in for good measure.



A poem for today........... by Kenneth Patchen

The Artist's Duty

So it is the duty of the artist to discourage all traces of shame
To extend all boundaries
To fog them in right over the plate
To kill only what is ridiculous
To establish problem
To ignore solutions
To listen to no one
To omit nothing
To contradict everything
To generate the free brain
To bear no cross
To take part in no crucifixion
To tinkle a warning when mankind strays
To explode upon all parties
To wound deeper than the soldier
To heal this poor obstinate monkey once and for all

To verify the irrational
To exaggerate all things
To inhibit everyone
To lubricate everyone
To lubricate each proportion
To experience only experience

To set a flame in the high air
To exclaim at the common place alone
To cause the unseen eyes to open

To admire only the absurd
To be concerned with every profession save his own
To raise a fortuitous stink on the boulevards of truth and beauty
To desire an electrifiable intercourse with a female alligator
To lift the flesh above the suffering
To forgive the beautiful its disconsolate deceit

To flash his vengeful badge at every abyss

To HAPPEN

It is the artist's duty to be alive
To drag people into glittering occupations

To blush perpetually in gaping innocence
To drift happily through the ruin race-intelligence
To burrow beneath the subconscious
To defend the unreal at the cost of reason
To obey each outrageous impulse
To commit his company to all enchantments






1 comment:

Pattern Patisserie said...

You are a brave and lovely woman, Claire Gilliam, and I admire you for your lack of British reserve!! Well done!
Love, Patricia xx