Bad Girls, 2011
Artist Statement
Bad Girls is inspired by scandalous and intriguing women throughout history. Mycatholic upbringing has impressed onto me the idea of an acceptable woman, what theyact like, what they look like and how they are portrayed. By referencing the renaissancegenre of history painting I create mythological and allegorical images of womenthroughout history, but with a rebellious, sexual twist. These women fascinate mebecause their stories portray them as “bad girls”. These images ask the viewer thequestion “why are these specific women perceived to be ‘bad’, why is a woman owningher own sexuality considered a malfeasance?”
By using allegorical stories and myths, I use archetypal “female” characters throughouthistory to present a new type of history image, one where the central figure isempowered, in control, and blessed by a baroque stream of light. Digital photographyitself informs my work, the idea of truth in the photograph is subverted, through digitalediting, to create an alternative truth, a pluralistic narrative. I reinterpret this genre ofphotography and the characters I portray. Sex, sanity, religion, gender, bondage andwickedness are themes I am exploring.