Self-Portraits
Self-portrait (photo lab), 2007, pencil, acrylic, and bullet holes on tar paper, 27.5 x 36"
Inspired by photographs of me in the Navy, this series of drawings are self-portraits as targets. After rendering the image on tar paper with chalk and acrylic, members of my family practiced shooting with shotguns, pistols and high-powered rifles. I omitted my face from the drawings to mimic actual shooting targets and obscure the identity of the figure. The uniform insignia distinguishes his rank and position while a conventional scoring system is absent. Like the shooter, the viewer's relationship to the image is dependent on its context. Whether brother or enemy, the figure becomes a recipient of violence, regardless of status.
military, class, conscription, family
