Mannequins

Statement

This photography project explores the theme of individual identity and the sense of lost belonging within the diverse, multifaceted society of the United States. Using mannequins as featureless figures that could represent individuals of any ethnicity or nationality, the project places these indistinct figures in both American natural landscapes and familiar, frequented locations across the country. By integrating these anonymous forms into iconic American settings, the work reflects the confusion and sense of isolation individuals often feel when navigating identity and belonging in a complex cultural environment.

Mannequins, with their lack of defining traits, serve as symbols of individuals facing self-definition challenges in a society rich in diversity. In contrast with both the vastness of natural landscapes and the everyday familiarity of popular American places, the mannequins highlight the search for identity and connection within a society that is simultaneously welcoming yet overwhelming in its complexity. The repeated presence of these faceless figures in varying states and positions across different scenes symbolizes the ongoing struggle to find one’s place in an environment where cultural richness can lead to both inspiration and alienation.

Through this juxtaposition of the mannequins against the iconic and familiar aspects of American settings, the project seeks to convey a visual narrative of the individual’s search for identity and the sense of rootlessness that may accompany such diversity, encouraging reflection on the nuanced relationship between self and surroundings.