The word "effigy" often evokes a sense of something sinister, dark, or associated with death. In reality, it simply means a sculpture or model of a person. The premise behind this series was to make Robin appear as just that, a sculpture, and blurring the line between human and non-human. I aimed for a balance where she doesn't feel entirely real, yet not completely unreal. This series inhabits that blurred realm between life and death, between shadow and light—a realm I find myself visiting on a consistent basis.
I find that I inhabit this space more often than I’d like. There are people who believe you can instantly pull yourself out of depression or anxiety, as if snapping their fingers could transform you. “Think happy thoughts.” “Stay positive.” As if I’ve, or anyone else, never considered that.
Life is a balance between joy and sorrow, light and dark. Some people believe happiness is the ultimate goal, but those who understand life know that sadness has its place too. It's not something to fear or avoid; it's a natural part of our experience. Embracing all our emotions helps us appreciate the highs and navigate the lows, creating a balance that enriches our lives.
With this series, I aimed to blur the line between these realms, capturing the complexity of our emotional landscape. Life is never just one thing; it's a blend of emotions, both positive and negative. By exploring these contrasts, I wanted to show that happiness and sadness (real and unreal) are intertwined, each giving depth and meaning to the other. These photographs seek to reveal the beauty in this duality, illustrating that our most profound moments often arise from the intersection of these emotions.
Is it a sculpture or a human body? It doesn’t matter because, either way, it’s real. No matter what we are feeling, whether negative or positive, the emotion is real and valid. The emotion is part of you and needs to be embraced. Our world often tries to make those who aren’t always happy feel wronged. In my mind, without sadness, without negativity, this world would become truly unbalanced, leading to a more disastrous outcome.
A special thank you goes to Robin, the model in this series, who was more than willing to go through with my plans and get painted in clay.
Please let me know what you think and as always, thank you for viewing.
Absolutely masterpiece!
Brilliant!