Joanne Leah: Acid Mass
When I was a child, I would explore the woods behind my house. I ventured alone, following a small creek. One winter day, I deviated from my usual path. As I walked, I heard a man shout. A pack of barking dogs ran toward me. I immediately dropped to the snowy ground and pretended to be dead. I held my breath. The dogs surrounded me, sniffed and snorted. I had never felt that kind of fear before, the fear of being eaten alive.
My photographs portray a series of contorted body parts, juxtaposed with ordinary yet highly stylized props. Using color as my narrative, I take the viewer on an eerie trip through staged, fairytale crime scenes. My ritualistic images draw from my own childhood memories, exploring themes of isolation, detachment and self-identity.
