Ouroboros is an exploration of the correlation between intentional visual distortion and mental illness, specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Through much trial and error, I explored the reactions caused by different abrasive household chemicals, such as oven cleaner and Comet, to distort images and create visual representations of my inner psyche.
Working with polaroid film, I began to take photographs of messes in my apartment and then promptly ripped the images apart. The subject matter evolved—while messes are still a focus, so are solitary spaces and myself. Ouroboros became a reflection of myself. How does OCD impact my daily living? How does depression and anxiety exacerbate my symptoms? As the work continued, the true nature of the medium revealed itself—the polaroid’s emulsion acted as fabric, folding and moving, much like the clothes I step over and avoid cleaning. While the polaroids themselves can be viewed as precious objects since they are one-of-a-kind, I don’t treat them that way. During production, the polaroids lived inside my backpack, constantly changing, mirroring how my OCD lives with me and changes.
Found in many cultures and originating in Greek and Egyptian mythology, the ouroboros depicts a snake eating its own tail, signifying death, rebirth, cyclical infinity, wholeness, and destruction/creation. For me, this mirrors my relationship with mental health. Ouroboros is a physical manifestation of all of these qualities, and it signifies a beginning and end.
