This series explores the artificial codification of identity. No people are present in these scenes – the alleged characters are constructions of wigs and clothing or clothing-like articles. I build the figures by placing wigs on styrofoam heads and draping costumes over light stands.

By placing these assemblages in film-like tableaux and photographing them from behind, I am exploring the photographic gaze and its construction of identity in terms of age, sex, race – all based on features of hair color and style, as well as context of clothing and environment. In the series I challenge the believability of these fabricated personalities by including hints (sometimes fewer, sometimes more) of their artificiality. While these figures seem completely real at first glance, something vaguely implausible creeps in and shows itself as, perhaps an impossibly thin neck or an unnaturally rigid posture, for example. I am interested in using concepts of privacy, fashion and surveillance to explore the viewers’ associations and identifications with these creations, the only perspective offered being the backs of their heads.

These images have all been shot with a view camera and chrome film, and are printed digitally.

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