Confronting the veils
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, my whole world was turned upside down and like most people, I have had to work remotely and live largely in isolation for several months. For photographers stuck inside, especially for photographers interested in fashion, like me, this was a big problem in that, I would have to completely reframe my practice. Initially, I was very anxious and nervous, I was so confused and I couldn’t imagine how I could create something related to fashion within my tiny room. I was overwhelmed by the situation and it seemed impossible for me to make work without a studio and photography equipment like a tripod and lighting. I did not have anyone to collaborate with, no models, makeup artists or stylists. I needed to find a way to make work and find a way to use myself as a model and the subject of my photographs. Whilst I am not a shy person, I’m not an extrovert either - my preference is to be behind the camera not in front of it. I needed to overcome my fears and put my insecurities to one side and find a way forward. As I made my first tentative steps towards self-portraiture, I began to slowly find an effective way of working. My room became my stage and my studio and I became a performer. I adopted a persona that explored different characters that in turn became the subject of my photographs. I found a way to embrace my fears, anxiety and loneliness and absorb the psychological pressure and position it within my image making. I used my body with domestic objects as props, appendages and decoration to express my inner struggle with self-isolation, social distancing and the wider world of lockdown. I played with themes associated with, barriers, distance separation and behind the masks and veils, I found a way to make work and in my own way confront the challenges of this global pandemic.
