As recently I have been preparing my portfolio for my masters applications, I have been going through a lot of my old work. And for me the obvious thing which connects everything is portraiture, but one thing which links my more successful pieces are when they have a story and emotion behind them.
I love creating autobiographical pieces, and in general creating image which shows something which can never be visible, for instance mental health.
I always distance myself from my pieces though, like it is not my mind I am talking about and it’s more of a general concept.
Last year for the migration project at the beginning of year 2 I completed this piece, and this is an idea I want to push forwards more.
This piece showed my journey of emotions and experience after I moved to London by myself when I was 17.
This was one of the first pieces I did which was truly about my experience, even if this was not a piece I ever shared on Social media, it scared me.
Another Auto-biographical piece I have done but not in the form on portraiture was a side, personal project I completed during year 1 and the beginning of year 2. I completed a 80 page limited edition (50 copies) hand printed book, exploring the idea of recovering from trauma, specifically after sexual assault. I delved in and told my story, but more so showed how I did heal even if it took time, and it was creating from drawings, sketches and writing I did while recovering and trying to work through my mind of thoughts.
I want to continue to explore these subjects, such as mental health and trauma, and also the idea of being autobiographical and explore how I can intertwine these with portraiture and print. But also the idea intrigued me of what the world looks like through different peoples lenses due to their own personal experiences.