I am fascinated by my niece’s childhood world. When she
was about four years old I became captivated by the intensity with which she
experienced her life. Children learn to understand the world through their
play and her world is full of dramatic possibilities for adventure, a place
where reality and fantasy intermingle seamlessly.
Psychology describes the brain of children under six years old
as not fully developed and therefore unable to understand the confines of
the physical world. They literally believe they have the power to affect the
physical world with their thoughts. I believe this creates an interesting
dichotomy between the power of the child’s mind and the reality of their
physical vulnerability. Everyday life experiences of beauty, humor, and fear
seem sped up and intensified in a child’s daily life.
With this body of photographs I want to explore this place of
play and fantasy by making images with my niece and other children her age.
I want to make images that express the almost otherworldliness and physical
intensity of the children’s experience. I am particularly drawn to photographing
girls because of the almost uncanny way it brings me back the experiences
of my own childhood. In many ways the photographs depict an observed experience,
but are unavoidably influenced by my personal memories and impressions from
my own childhood.