Can photography capture the entire essence of a person? How can we portray the ways in which we see someone and they see themselves? Which parts of us are known to ourselves, and which parts stay hidden?

These were a few of the questions that guided Kim’s project. Portraiture can be daunting - how can a photo represent the whole of a person? Throughout the process of this project, Kim and I talked a lot about identity; she turned to me to be the subject of her series because we know each other deeply and can openly talk about topics like who we are, how we feel, and how we want to be when we are largely perceived. In response to our conversations, Kim utilized the double-exposure of film photography. We agreed that two overlayed pictures provides moments of nuance and tension between two states of being. I often feel a sense of being in-between identities, and as for our identities in general, they are ever-changing and kaleidoscopic. The double-exposure method provides a way to express both of these sentiments.

I. a photo of me is overlayed with a photo of an Iranian appetizer plate I made. I’m half Iranian, and sometimes my relationship to that part of me feels foggy and not recognized on my person.

II. a photo of me is overlayed with inside of the Rotunda at UVA. The Rotunda symbolizes a predominantly white and formal space, and often the identities of those who don’t fall in line with it are obscured. Some of my favorite moments of this photo are the rope over my heart, and how the column-head looks like a crown.

III. two pictures of me in my bedroom are overlayed. My bedroom is a space away from others, and where I feel like I can be in touch with my inner-self. One of me is opened up to the view, the other looks down.

Photographed by Thien-Kim Dinh using film photography.