2015

#Goals

This is a small initial idea that I produced on the theme of #goals in conjunction with representation. It stems from the concept of a fairly recent trend amongst young people to literally comment “#goals” on any photo online of a person whose lifestyle or appearance could potentially be considered a “goal”, such as someone who is particularly attractive or wealthy. I found the idea that people could consider someone a “goal” based on only a single image very interesting; that image could be entirely constructed and false, yet thousands of people are declaring their desire to achieve it. I wanted to reflect this in an outcome, and decided to initially use a selfie, taken of and by a friend who routinely receives praise on social media. I then overlaid it with a layer semi-sheer paper, with a hashtag shape cut out. I wanted this to literally represent the notion of these photos; the person taking it has full control over what is and isn’t seen, in order to create something worth aspiring to. This is what the paper layer symbolises; parts of the image that are seen better than others. I then decided to edge the hashtag shape with imitation stitching. I really enjoying using embroidery and other textiles techniques in art, largely because of the inference and implication that I feel they add to an image. They’re such a literal construction technique and I feel that they add that notion to any art; the concept of constructing something. I wanted to give the idea that the image people are aspiring to is not only seen through a filter, but has the potential to be entirely fabricated; the photographer is entirely in control of their own representation.