A Woman's Chambers

I explore the complexities of the ever-present change within my life and focus on the development of identity by telling stories of twelve different characters of the female experience.

I’m emphasizing the transformative element of the female existence by presenting twelve distinct feminine characteristics or fragments of a woman. By highlighting various female archetypes and tropes in a process of confrontation, each inner woman portrays a unique facet of womanhood.Each of the twelve characters is shown confronting a segment of their psyche, and through loss and transformation, they get harmed, hurt, or die. Without these, her fulfillment is impeded and she may suffer a loss of self that manifests in depression, insanity, self-damage, or suicide. The series, thus, essentially renders her experience as a call to action for women to embrace deeper motivation, individualization, and strength.

I form characters that not only provide insight into a personal journey but also the universal struggles of growing global issues in our societies. Rooted in our cultural heritage, the project connects the viewers at a personal level and engages them with situations that are commonly identified as feminine.

The twelve narratives are articulated around turning points by using death as a symbol of a transition toward spiritual development and catharsis: each character is constructed on a tableau of death, harm, metamorphosis, and ultimate rebirth.

To delineate the stages and their individual features, I use still lives, landscapes, classical portraits, cinematic close-ups, abstract analogies, collages, and installations. Due to its inherent connection with cinematic storytelling, the series employs sequences, photo books, and moving pictures. In addition, I combine staged images with archival prints and personal materials.

While tapping into the collective subconscious and invoking archaic patterns and symbols, the series seeks to create emotional connections with its audience and foster a sense of unity and understanding among women. By challenging preconceived notions of femininity and introducing twelve identities that represent personal or universal internationalizations of roles and behaviors, the series introduces a spiritual map of the female journey.

Aside from the metaphysical aspect of femininity, the series investigates social as well as transnational contexts of the female position. By mixing realism with elements of the fictitious, the twelve characters - the heroines - abstractly raise awareness of global matters such as human rights, gender-fluidity tendencies, or epidemics like alienation. Expanding the possibilities of storytelling, the images push the boundaries of social awareness around female representation and discover our motivations toward personal patterns and social interactions.

Through the journey of transformation, the characters learn to redefine their values and bring their true selves into being. In addition to being symbolic characters, archetypes model pathways for the universal transformations in life, and the archetypal stories are roadmaps for life. The twelve beats in my series flash the journey towards psychological independence to awaken the feminine potential.

Archetypes are not necessarily female even though they embody feminine energy. These concepts apply to both genders equally. Every one of us has the ability to reach inside ourselves, look for a feeling or resonance, and make a connection with the archetypes in our own way. Archetypal journeys are also not one-time events that occur at a certain age; these moments can happen any number of times and at any age. We need to be more brave, and be our own heroes/heroines to bring out our inner talents and self-fulfilling joys to life. Moreover, we need stories that show us how to do so. These stories are a form of hope, and offer the greatest potential for shared meaning.