the concept

In A Noisy World will consist of a series of twelve photographic diptychs and a soundscape constructed from readings by, and interviews with, the twelve subjects. The subjects will be high-profile names in creative fields. By combining photography and a soundscape, the project aims to explore identity and challenge people’s perceptions and demands on those in the public eye and avoid stereotypes; to look at the bigger picture, beyond fame. The aesthetic qualities of the photography, be they melancholy or optimistic, may contrast distinctly with the, at times, claustrophobic nature of the soundscape.

I have long been interested in the nature of our over-stimulated lives and the resulting personal struggle with too much of everything. Too much noise. Too much choice. A struggle to take it all in. A desire for simplicity. A personal preference for listening over watching. In this increasingly visual world we see everything yet we see nothing. To a certain extent, we are all putting on a performance. Ultimately, the project encourages us all to take the time to truly listen and to feel. To consider our own identities. To recognise that we all have a voice.

How does anyone get their message across in this competitive arena? I began to wonder about the people whose voices spoke to me. Individualists. Mavericks. Those with a conscience and enough self-belief to make a stand. We all have a choice whether to use our voice or not. Why do they speak out, these voices heard in the midst of cultural overload? What drives a seemingly humble, often intensely private person to court such attention? Conscience? Ego? What conflict does this bring about? Are creative people more likely to be introverts? If so, is their (our) desire for attention really so different from that of an extrovert?

Performing can liberate us from our own traits and personality in the same way that anonymity can embolden us. The project challenges us to examine our own perceptions and interpretations of those in the public eye. To look at our own culpability as viewers/consumers. To look at the personal cost of the demands we make on those in the public eye. And to consider whether we feel that our insatiable appetite for more and the personal toll this takes is justified and if so, why.

the subjects

I’m drawn to individuality, by what differentiates us in a, paradoxically, increasingly bland world. The twelve subjects have been chosen for certain traits unquestionably, but also, I have to admit, on pure gut feeling and instinct. All people I see certain sensibilities or fragility in. And perhaps, a hint of rebellion. Those with conviction, whose compassion and integrity manifest itself in their work. Those who intrigue me and whose output pushes boundaries.

the diptych

The diptych consists of

• a portrait of the subject in their chosen space

• the chosen space empty

• a personal object / a detail of their chosen space (optional: tryptch)

Subjects choose their own locations where they will have their portrait taken. There are no restrictions – anywhere they can be themselves, their own restorative niches. The very act of having a camera before you can change a situation or a behaviour. Is it possible to see past the facades? Perhaps the “big reveal” is just another performance and our assumptions really are just that. Can we see truth through a lens or is it all artifice? Using more than just our eyes, I would like to imagine we can, albeit, fleetingly. Whether it can be captured or not is up for debate.

It is my opinion that a person has an impact on a space. Whether this is projected or tangible is unknown. I want to explore how a space changes when the subject leaves it. When we remove the distraction of the subject from a space, it becomes even more absorbing.

the soundscape