Papillary Dermis, 2021

bachelor of fine arts, visual arts major

Third Year

I am intrigued by the way my body moves and is perceived within space. Papillary Dermis is a self-portrait exploring bodily autonomy and the social significance of tattoos. My body is often overtly sexualized, and my tattoos used as a means to gain access to my body through uninvited touch and remark. Using photography as a tool, I am able to reclaim my personal space and objectify my body on my own terms. I do this as an act of both vulnerability and defiance. By contorting my body, I re-enact the discomfort provoked by the way people interact with my tattoos.

While this is a self-portrait, keeping the form ungendered is important to create ambiguity as a way to allow the viewer to reach their own conclusions. I see my skin as a temporary vessel for my being, and the flora and fauna designs of my tattoos represent both growth and decay. In a way, I use this imagery to make a home out of my body. With Papillary Dermis, I aim to disorient the viewer by making my figure appear somewhat unfamiliar in order to point to the social treatment of tattooed bodies.

Back