THE GLAD EYE
The Glad Eye is a photographic installation exploring the power of the human gaze, the dynamic that exists between viewer and the viewed.
The arena of non-verbal communication is defined by eye contact. Facial expressions are read like maps of the mind. We decode others and submit to their scrutiny. These exchanges are ambiguous, freighted with a multitude of possible meanings. Looking someone directly in the eyes can signify an offer, a demand, a provocation or a threat. Or one of the thousand shades of meaning in between. The art of reading rather than misreading these messages is at the core of successful human interaction.
I examine the quality of the gaze by inviting the sitter to expose his emotional world, or attempt to conceal it. The result of these confessional sessions is a series of portraits questioning the value of eye contact: do we reveal or conceal ourselves behind our gaze?
The photographs are presented in display boxes behind painted and scratched glass, revealing only part of the image. The viewer has to come close and peep in to see the whole image. This adds to the intimacy of the encounter with the person behind the glass. Notepads are installed next to each exhibit, inviting people to leave feedback. The examples shown each include two comments left by visitors of the exhibition.
