The Clowns

The following triptych conceptualizes three levels of the “self”. The first composition in the set—The Pompous Clown—explores my identity on a more introspective level. The black & white color scheme allows the viewer’s focus to remain on fragmented elements of my face as well as the various, almost haphazard, graphic components drawn onto the composition. The marks read as incredibly quick and add movement to an otherwise “still” photo; additionally, they contrast with the serious and refined nature of the portrait. The second composition—The Empty Clown—explores my identity in relation to my community and relationships. My physical form is “erased” from every photo, and in its place is a brief description of the moment captured in each photo. This composition resembles a scrapbook or collage, and the handwritten text is a deep red, which contrasts with the less saturated, grayscale photos. The white blobs that erase my figure also lead the viewer’s eye throughout the entire composition—starting from the bottom left and ending at the bottom right in an “M” shape. This composition incorporates a splash of color to show how my relationships bring color back into my life. The final composition—The Traveling Clown—explores my identity in connection with my environment and experiences. It is by far the brightest and most colorful composition, as I owe most of my identity to my lived experiences; comparatively, the written text relays a more somber message about feeling lost. Multiple images are placed onto the composition in a “realistic” yet purposefully imaginative manner. There are lily pads from my trip to China and sculptures from my trip to Scandinavia that are juxtaposed with a wide shot of me at Lake Michigan. This composition is the most lively and loud. All these pieces, however, are tied together both thematically and graphically.