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.
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