In this series I take the role of an amateur nature photographer creating a crypto-zoological bestiary of phobias. Throughout the process I seek to domesticate common and uncommon anxieties by presenting them as fantastical creatures. Their natural habitats are full of fear-inspiring stimuli, but in spite of each animal's anatomy, which is uniquely evolved to ward off the perceived danger, they are all helpless to cope with the situation. The result is either the uneasy tension of a creature ignorant of its peril, or a state of paralysis brought on by awareness. Ultimately the work confronts the viewer with the question: is the thing we fear as terrible as we imagine, or are we the sum of our fears?
Seven (8 framed prints)
Set in the Roaring Twenties, this deconstructed retelling of the Snow White fairy tale explores Snow's psychological make up. The dwarves are all figments of her imagination, and each represents a different fear. Together they comprise a list of my own phobias, and thus Snow White becomes a proxy for myself.
The installation is arranged so all the dwarves encircle Snow White, creating a tension between their control of and dependence on her. In the central image, each dwarf is hidden in reflections, shadows, etc, showing their connection to Snow. It is up to the viewer to find them and identify each fear based on the dwarf's characteristics.
