INANNA

“All that is visible must grow beyond itself, extend into the realm of the invisible.” –
                                                                                                the I Ching, or Book of Changes

About three years ago, a close friend of mine was diagnosed with a reoccurrence of a lethal form of cancer. The news hit me like a punch to the gut, throwing me back into myself. I was struck by my need to find evidence of, and believe in, the invisible and intangible world as opposed to the solid, real stuff of day to day existence. The images in Inanna started as a response to this need and attempt to examine and synthesize these two realities.

Inanna is named after one of the oldest existent world myths describing the cycle of death and rebirth. Her story combines the physical (disembodiment) and spirit (re-embodiment) worlds in a tale that has been repeated, with different main characters, across time and across multiple world cultures.

For each of the images I use a self-portrait as the basis, exploring a different aspect of my invisible self– my personal history, fears, beliefs and ideals. The method of layering photographs with drawing is itself a kind of metaphor, representing my best attempts at synthesis, with the drawings acting a bit like graffiti on a wall, altering and extending their photographic foundations. Quirky and imperfect, their intricacy opens the door for a closer look, inviting the viewer to make their own connections with the work via their own life experiences.

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I would like to dedicate the series to my friend Flavia Florezell, who has shown me the importance of cherishing the realm of the invisible, and in particular the story of Inanna.