Desire is something intangible… something we can’t touch or see or hear. We feel it. It’s something inherent and instinctive. As with most elements of human nature, desire comes with a slew of possibilities, complexities, and conflicts. It can lead to disappointment or disillusionment. Also another common characteristic of human desire is that it is extremely impressionable and never truly satiated. We always want more, especially within the technological and consumerist context of today.
My goal in making this piece was to mimic editorial and fashion photography in order to explore the idea of what it means to really want something. We look at these kinds of photos and we’re naturally drawn to them – they usually have elements that portray things we would normally desire: beauty, mystery, intrigue, perfection. I wanted the viewer to experience that same sort of visual attraction and appetite. Instead of promoting the use of products, I chose to use scanned images of the products using me. The metallic belt and necklace take on the role of tormentor, restraining my senses and my ability to control them. They look like attractive accessories, but they turn the skin into odd and unnatural colors. The mouth (chin area) and the hands were used because they are so often associated with the action of taking, consuming, covering, hiding, stealing… many of which have to do with wanting something.
The most important element to me with this piece is the juxtaposition of visually eye-catching and compelling colors and shapes with the unnatural and disturbing nature of the actual imagery. It shows desire in a truer form than usually seen in magazines. A form that illustrates more than just desire, but also other abstract emotions that come along with it like confusion, hesitance, and guilt. It also helps to illustrate that desire can consume us, and yet at the same time, we might subconsciously be begging for more.
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