The Models
The Models is my first "group" mixed media macro portraits of the eyes. Measuring 40inches x 50inches. it illustrates eyes from 11 different models who were popular in the 1980s and 90s. The models are Helena Christiansen, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Iman Abdulmajid, Natalia Vodianova, Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford, Gisele Bundchen, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Christy Turnlington . I chose these women for their unique beauty, sense of style and entrepreneurship. Their pupils are represented by convex mirrors which are not only a depiction of the truthful realities that the portrait subjects may see but also insight into the way the viewer sees him or herself.
Details of The Models
This piece was made by hand cutting individuals shapes of magazine paper influenced by the subjects themselves. This approach is to highlight their perspective conveyed through the context of the most unique element of each living thing - their eyes. The shapes used, create patterns reflecting the design of the iris color with themes the subjects’ favor to indicate a visual map of their identity.
My goal within this series is to give a viewer a more dynamic visual representation of a portrait subject by incorporating the elements of visual, emotional and experiential contexts. I would like the viewer to consider this new kind of portraiture beyond cultural, racial, socioeconomic status, or even species differences. To not be limited to traditional visually superficial representations which rarely indicate the subject’s personality or interests. I want to truly highlight a subject’s ‘uniqueness’ by emphasizing how everything we experience and certainly everything we see impacts the lens with which we then view all other new things.