For this project I went to a lot of bars and I literally threw myself at men who I didn't know. I used my body as a projectile, hurling myself toward strong, vulnerable men who were waiting to catch me. Poised in a perpetual state of social awkwardness and in full possession of the ability to subvert stereotypical gender roles, the photographs pose questions concerning relationships, social connection, sex, gender, and the desire to form relationships quickly that are both intense and long lasting. The project initially started after I placed ads on Craigslist.org looking for men who would meet me blind date style in bars and allow me to throw myself at them. This project comes from a place where the desire to make a positive connection with another person is coupled with the knowledge that a connection might not be possible, that the person might not catch me.
If ever there was a fitting tribute to a late fashion icon, "The Head of Isabella Blow, 2002" is it. Dramatic, gothic, and grandiose, the artwork makes use of fifteen taxidermied animals (including a rattlesnake, rat, raven, and six magpies), wood and faux moss, and a Manolo Blahnik heel and lipstick tube both from Blow's personal stash. When spotlighted against a blank surface, the work creates the recognizable silhouette of Blow herself, wearing what looks to be one of her beloved Phillip Treacy hats. Recently donated to London's National Portrait Gallery by British artists (and friends of Blow) Tim Noble and Sue Webster, the macabre work goes on display tomorrow, inviting the public to not only admire the fashion muse, but also contemplate her preoccupation with death and beauty. It will remain on view through March 13.
La Maîtresse de la Tour Eiffel | 2009 from Michel de Broin on Vimeo.
