Conceal

"There is beauty in the real, the truth, the naked bare appearance of something. But there is also beauty in manipulation, in creating an illusion in changing the way something looks, the unreal allows for magic, unexplainable and unobtainable imagery.” (Ingrid Baars, 2017)

I am a animator, fashion photographer and mixed media artist. I use the medium of photography and film to capture moments of reality, I then distort that reality using computer software to create layers of escapist nostalgia and futuristic idealism. I am interested in the concept of beauty. Through research I have found that there is an universal perception of attractiveness that appears to have a biological basis, but beauty is also designed and cultivated by society. I aim to provoke a pleasurable feeling of familiar safety by using beauty stereotypes, while also challenging the viewer to question those beliefs. How far can we distort reality and maintain beauty.
As a teenager I felt drawn to but also manipulated by the fashion and advertising industries idea of ‘perfect’ beauty. I am interested in the beauty ideals that we create for ourselves, the look that we can try so hard to obtain and how that changes. My work explores the conflict between the romantic fantasy of desires that are inspired by our cultural media and the reality of our lives, how can we enjoy and value both? I would like to expose and embrace the artistic practice of Photoshopping by exploring the lines between photography, art and truth. By using photomontage, I compose collaged layers of bright colours and juxtaposed, illustrated elements to create obviously manipulated scenes.
My practice involves film, animation, photography and illustration, this enables me to respond to the current trend of using moving image in the fashion industry, as magazines are becoming increasingly an online experience. I have the ability as an artist to create an oasis in a world that sometimes feels overwhelmed by negativity and insecurity. I acknowledge the fear, anger and darkness in my life, but I choose to portray a beautiful world that is playful, colourful and light. I would like to inspire the feeling that we are enough just how we are, while also enjoying the exploration of an imaginative world.