The Alchemist series began as a kind of comic book but transformed over 3 years into a story about my son, Oliver. I think one of the most interesting tensions in the series is between allegory and myth and portraiture.
Some images are more one or the other. This one feels more allegorical—he is making eye contact, but the setting is deliberate and perhaps overpowering. This image may be about finding identity and grappling with beauty.
Today, I felt elation as I was shooting Oliver through the kitchen door. There he was! There he is. He is my most important project. We did it. He is almost launched.
I try to keep my single motherhood out of the narrative of my art making, but for this project I can’t separate it. It is true there is a seven year gap in my artist CV. But look who came out of that.