AJF: When did you start to focus on the body as a topic of your investigations?
Lauren Kalman I think as a metalsmith making jewelry, there was a logical transition for me from body as site to body as subject. When I made the move to body as subject, I was considering my relationship to the decorative, which lead to a series of performances using precious material in a way that was ugly or that hindered movement. When I look back on my work, I think my favorite projects come from personal origin or conflict that arises from insecurities or questions about the relationship of my body to consumer culture, sexuality, and gender.
AJF: What prompted you to start using photography?
Lauren Kalman I began using photography because it was necessary to describe how the objects function. Through this necessity, I became interested in aspects of photographic theory and the construction of images. At this point, the images are not documentation but an integral part of the work.
READ FULL ART JEWELRY FORUM INTERVIEW
