Saatchi Online

black and white photo collage

The focus of my work has emerged from themes exploring identity, particularly that of women, which has led to my own form becoming the focus of my investigation of the body, image and perception. My work emerged from my personal struggle with my body, obesity and my recent pursuit to regain control of it. I use my work to explore the changes in my body, the manipulation of my image and my attempt to come to terms with it. I temporarily lost control of my image through the intervention of the media so I attempt to regain control of my image and of my body itself after drastic changes occurred through extreme weight loss. The image I present of myself reflects upon the psychological struggle that occurs in identifying with my image after my physical form has been altered so drastically.

I subject myself to physically/visually uncomfortable and often painful processes in order to relay the difficulties in adjusting to the changes within my body. This has become an interpreted phototherapy. My body is no longer my form it is my medium. The sculptural element has developed this further as I begin to look at my body as a form, to be moulded, manipulated and cast, introducing a new level of understanding. Process and form are closely linked.

My body is continuing to evolve and the form you see in these pictures no longer exists as surgery has taken it away. Despite this, still my relationship with my body has not met a resolution and the conclusion I eventually aim to achieve with my body and image is still unclear. Is it possible to reach satisfaction and identification within the perception of the image when it has been so continuously and drastically altered?