Fine Art nominee

Contained in Space² is a series of images that explores the role of space through the confinement and fragmentation of the female nude, subject of the male gaze. Although surrounded by space, we are unable to see it as a physical form, and so through the use of the body working with different objects I have tried to create a physical representation of this. Inspired by Hans Bellmer and his masochistic photographs of confined dolls and women as well as the performative self-portraits of Ana Mendieta, this project is made up of a series of self-portraits created through performance and shot on medium format without the control of vision through the viewfinder, whilst also tackling issues of gender and representation. The title was mainly inspired by the square 6x6 negatives the photos were shot on but also how a 3D subject can be flattened to 2D through a photograph, continuing with the exploration of space.

As a student studying photography at university, it is an area of art that has interested me from the age of 13. After completing a foundation qualification I then decided to continue this area of study and go on to do a degree. Looking at themes of the body and space, much of my work is made up of self portraits shot on medium format 120 film working with performance and inspired by artists such as Ana Mendieta, Francesca Woodman and Man Ray, as well as being inspired by the different motifs and writings of the surrealist movement as a whole.