Shadow
1991-1997
A Study of Three Archetypes
Anger • Rage • Shame
In 1991, I embarked to work on a study of three archetypes. The process was to begin with a meditation based upon a particular fear based emotion. It stemmed from my writings of dreams and work in psychotherapy with a range of guides.
Anger was the first investigation. I made a mask based upon anger and then made some photographs of it. From there, my purpose was to wear the mask and own the energy that I associated with it. I would attempt to channel the emotion, realizing it within the specific safe confines of my studio. The point was to experience the feeling as it took over my body from within. I made more photographs of this process. It would be two years before I would engage in the next archetype.
Rage was the second focus for me, beginning with the fabrication of another separate mask. This was becoming a method of photographic practice, to wear and record the object and experience the passion of the emotion. This I did in 1993 by again owning the energy, which surprised me as it became somewhat sexual. Nothing about this process was predetermined, except to build a mask and then realize the emotion by wearing the mask.
Shame was the final emotion to explore, and it would be four more years before I could deal with this toxic and powerful energy. The shame mask became simpler in structure, but the pain of it was the greatest among the three.
This suite of photographs became a single portfolio of unique prints. I made them with a more raw approach as it felt right to do so. Paper was torn under safelights, exposed, and developed with my hand method, lacking the controls of conventional printing, a deliberately crude process. It brought me more connection to the whole experience by the spontaneity of the printing. 1997 brought the completion of this portfolio.
sb
© 2017 Stephan Brigidi