Somewhere Beneath
The Skin
Artist Statement:
In a world that moves quickly and stays on the surface, we have stopped looking much further than what we see at first glance. I have always approached life as an observer and observing has shown me how much gets missed. We project constantly, filling in gaps, making assumptions, and responding not only to who someone is, but to who we think they are. Sometimes projection feels like protection. Sometimes it feels like erasure. I made this work to bring it back to the people.
I asked each person in front of my camera what they would want projected onto them if they could choose. The images come from their own lives: meaningful places, family, obsessions, loss, thoughts, passions, and quiet truths. Using a projector, I layer these chosen images onto their bodies. The light interacts with skin and features, creating a brief overlap between what is visible and what is usually held inside. I photograph that moment.
This work is not about revealing everything or exposing anyone. It is about noticing how quickly we judge and how easily we assign meaning. Those assumptions can settle deeper than we expect. Projection is part of being human. It shapes how we read strangers, how we define ourselves, and how we scroll through images of other people’s lives and measure our own against them. Paying attention creates space for care, and care requires humility.
Handwritten notes and fragments from each person accompany the portraits. Some are heavy. Some are light. Some exist simply to make someone smile. Viewers are invited to contribute their own notes as well. Over time the walls fill with these layered pieces, turning the space into a shared collection of what it means to be human. As you move through the show, consider what each projection means to the person wearing it, and then what it says to you.
This project is my own projection too. Everything you see and read is what I want to share with the world. A brief moment of vulnerability. A reminder to speak your truth, notice what you are carrying, and question what you place onto others. We are all human at the end of the day. Projections come in many forms. Seeing them changes the way we see ourselves.
The Project
Six curated photos of six different models, all with different meanings and backgrounds.
I'm a 21-year-old whose life changed unexpectedly for the better. I feel it is important to still embrace the joys of being young even while carrying the responsibility of a child: while my life has changed, I still think It’s important to stay true to myself and not let being a mother be the only thing that defines me. - Ella
Our family had a history of unfortunate circumstances in the last century which reduced what was once 42 people to 9 today. This scene is of a farm similar to the one my great-grandfather and his family worked in before the family was rounded up during the Bolshevik revolution and wiped out except for my great-grandfather since he was 9. This photo is meant to be a reflection of their hardship and a goal to preserve their stories. - Gierman
The words projected on me are kinda what goes through my head when I am stressed or spiraling. I am a student, so it’s kinda common. The trees are just because I love nature and plants and whatnot. I hope you like it!
- Myla
I’m usually really chill but people see my face and think I don’t like them. When my “rbf” is just hiding a girl who is in love with 8 Korean guys named Stray Kids. I love Star Wars, power rangers, and Legos. I’m really goofy, enjoy k-dramas and books. I fight a lot with depression, but hobbies and friends help. That’s my “resting bitch face”. - Nia
Everyone, meet my dog, Ronnie. We gave each other all the love we could give. And what a true gift she was- to me and everyone that knew her. She will remain in my heart. Ronnie forever. - Chayse
These eyes have experienced 67 soon to be 68 years of visual experiences. Some of these experiences have been from the mountain top. There everything just seems to fit together properly. Traffic appears to move smoothly; the clouds are the most vivid and move so fluently. All the world appears to be calm and to have purpose. It is so easy to believe in the best of mankind and to accept that what is happening in the world below will all work out for the best. It has been a rare occasion in this life that have been able to spend time here. It has made an impression and till this day is where most want to be. However, from the mountain I have seen the valley. And it brings great sorrow to me to recall the time I have spent there. In direct opposition to seeing the best of mankind from the mountain, the valley can bring sorrow, pain, failure, addiction, loss, fear, discontentment, mistrust, abandonment, and many other bad life experiences. It is the middle ground, the hinterlands so to speak, where I have found myself for the majority of my life. Many of the things seen and experienced were not as striking. The wonderful mundane sights of life often fade too fast from our memories. We don't cherish this normality as much as the highs and lows however, it is what fills most of our life experience. Holding your grandchildren's hands and telling them stories of days long past. Siting in a chair under a tree in the yard asking your father questions just to hear his voice as he takes a moment to share his thoughts with you. A hug a kiss and an and love you from your mom that made you feel so much love. The first time you held the hand of the person you just knew was the one. The days spent in a career and taking care of a family. These all seem to just fly by without us really paying much attention to them. At 67 years of age however, these are the experiences that have become most precious. I find myself straining to recall the things I so obliviously made my way through without cherishing them as I should have. I now tell young couples who are attending to the needs of a young child who is in desperate need of a nap, enjoy this, it will be over in a flash. They will be asking for car keys in just a moment. I encourage all to learn a life of contentment. Take a moment in the mundane to cherish the experience. It is where most of the years of your life will take place. It's a good place.
- Wayne
