The thought began with a desire to record my friends in a common form – decidedly a white short sleeve button down shirt with black tie, and a pair of black frame glasses. I wanted the photo to appear as an employee badge photo, or a passport or green card photo, ambiguous and unrecognizable, yet familiar. The format, a four strip photo in black & white. I wasn’t sure where this concept would take me, but I liked the idea of an anonymous face, and an unrecognizable style. As the project has progressed the meaning of it for me began to take form. With an idea to create one image in many forms, I see this piece as an opportunity to have the viewer ask himself what it means to see, thus to judge and stereotype. As the observer looks on the many faces- he is limited to the basic acknowledgments: male/female, racial grouping, age – all of which come into question, as all the subjects appear basically the same. It forces him to recognize what these judgments mean to him, and in what order he recognized them and why. It also brings into play what the viewer might not be able to stereotype onto the face. Things like personality type, economic background, education, lifestyle, and sexual orientation, to name a few. This causes the observer to question his own prejudices, and stereotypes.

The subjects of the project are found through a networking system. It works like a web where, I begin with all the friends who I can convince to participate, and they convince their friends and the chain continues. The concept being that it will create a-six-degrees-of-separation map of all the people I know, and they know, and how we relate to one another and our environment. Your participation in this is what makes it all possible.

The name “Four” was inspired by the simplest elements of the piece. There are four photos in each filmstrip. It costs four dollars to print each one. When presented in a space, there are four walls in a room. I also like the idea that the word four, when written out (as opposed to 4), reminds us of the word “for”. Reminding us that this project is for you, and for me, and for all who choose to view it.

I will be holding sessions of this project at the Lakeside Lounge from 6pm on, every other Sunday for the next six weeks. Here is the address:

Lakeside Lounge
162 Avenue B
(Between 10th & 11th Streets near Tompkins Sq. Park)
New York, New York
212.529.8463
Lakesidelounge.com

Your participation is what makes it all possible!

Your friend,

Lily