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Show THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HONORS COLLEGE SHOWER STILLS Morgan Donovan (Laurel Caryn) Department of Art and Art History University of Utah Ever since some of its earliest discovered forms, such as the painting of figures on cave walls, the creation of art has sought to understand the h u m a n condition. N o w within our constantly changing society, it is increasingly important to continually explore the structure of humanity and the ways in which it both transforms and stays the same. While there are aspects of the human race that are timeless and universal, such as fundamental needs and c o m m o n inner desires, there are also facets of a population that are unique to time and place. In the field of photography specifically, efforts have often been made to obtain an honest portrait of an individual that will reveal some truth about the subject, whether it is a clue to some concealed thought or emotion or the entire essence of their existence. The photography series, "Shower Stills," seeks to capture an honest portrayal of a figure through a process of divesting subjects of external characteristics and recreating the experience of being washed clean. In putting a variety of individuals through the act of being cleansed before sitting before the camera, the process of the series draws upon both the scientific and spiritual ideas of being literally and figuratively regenerated and reborn. Through this procedure, "Shower Stills" explores concepts such as the commonality of base human feeling and e m o tion among a diverse collection of figures, as well as the inherent honesty that accompanies being placed in a vulnerable situation. In addition, the raw portraits highlight the contrast between themselves and the ever lessening accuracy of portraiture during a time when technology allows for a falsified showing of the self. The "Shower Stills" will be presented life-sized, unbound by frames in a clean gallery setting such that the viewer will also be placed in a position of interaction with the subjects. This interaction will result in a similar sense of vulnerability which makes the viewer susceptible to some of the same emotions experienced by the subjects in the photographs. In this way, "Shower Stills" is adding to the exploration of the often uncomfortable but universal truths in art, photography, and h u m a n portraiture. Morgan Donovan |
