Portraits.
A full catastrophe portrait is messy. Sort of don’t-wear-white type messy. As it should be.
"Oh” said Rachel over coffee “so you’re a portrait artist, who uses words instead of paint.”
Rachel is an artist herself. Her work has sold all over the world, so she’s a good judge of these things. She reminded me that we rarely see ourselves the way others do.
You might think that in this day and age - the age of the ubiquitous selfie - why would I need a portrait? Why would I need my story told?
Yet it's also deeply human to want to know how we're seen. To know how others might tell our story. We’re all curious about that, and often go to some lengths to find out.
Portraits are published as a hardback coffee table book. Or a ‘zine if you don’t like coffee tables. They might be something to share and pass down, or they might be something more intimate and just for you.
People have beautiful things to say about you. But you must die first - Fyodor Dostoevsky
A full catastrophe portrait — your life, or someone you love, is your story. But it’s my take on things.
I’m telling my own story in much the same way I’d tell yours, leaving in all the bits you think you should leave out.
It’s better that way.