PORTRAITS OF INNOCENCE
BEHIND THE PROJECT
The children’s images are part of the “Portraits of Innocence” series. The project began while considering the chaotic state of the world. At what age is innocence no longer a viable option for relating with people, allowing actions in the world that might otherwise be inconceivable When did we, consciously or not, decide to fashion our relationships using the criteria of reward and punishment.
After taking thousands of photographs of young children, I found that as the age progressed, the more visible were the shadows of the masks. In this society, is there any possibility of a child growing up without the need of concealment or disguise in the pursuit of self-interest? Can the learned pattern be shed after acquired? These questions must have an urgency in our everyday consciousness, in order to mirror ourselves as we actually are. Strangely, the show was scheduled to open the day after The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
After taking thousands of photographs of young children, I found that as the age progressed, the more visible were the shadows of the masks. In this society, is there any possibility of a child growing up without the need of concealment or disguise in the pursuit of self-interest? Can the learned pattern be shed after acquired? These questions must have an urgency in our everyday consciousness, in order to mirror ourselves as we actually are. Strangely, the show was scheduled to open the day after The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.