Project Abstract

Background on previous work:

I worked as an ophthalmic photographer for four years, and used medical photographs that I took at my job in a project called Florafaunal Angiography. The focus of the project was to combine the anatomical process of sight with the aesthetic result of seeing. I also made a handmade book called Scotoma, which deals specifically with "blind spots" (physically and conceptually).

MFA project:

Initially my idea was to further develop a conceptual project around this general idea of “blind spots” and the concept that something is always hidden from view. The plan was to photograph intuitively every day and then choose certain images to experiment with screenprinting/drawing/sewing over top of to create layers that would hide certain information.

I discovered that the term “scotoma”, which is the medical term for blind spot, is also used in psychology. It is used metaphorically to describe a mental blind spot or inability to perceive certain matters/traits about one’s own personality that might be obvious to other people. This has led me to think about the project in a more introspective way. I have decided that my starting point should be more deliberate image making instead of the intuitive/everyday style I originally proposed. I know that I want to include some self-portraiture in the project, and I am still planning to experiment with layering different media on top of photographic prints.