A Second Skin | 2017
Gum Bichromate process using breast milk
22 x 30"
A Second Skin is a series of self-portraits in which the wearer is wrapped in a piece of dehydrated scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). This wrapping acts as a living shield or barrier, providing an allegorical protective layer for the individual who wears it. Though dormant, the bacteria still respond to environmental changes such as temperature and humidity; when worn, heat from the wearer’s body makes the bacteria malleable, allowing it to mold or bind to the shape of the figure. Printing these images as Gum Bichromate prints using breast milk as pigment provides another layer of symbolism regarding maternal relationships, specifically how seemingly inanimate objects can fill both roles as both the nurturer and the nurtured.
