JES REYES
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Self-portraits

Much of my art, photography, video-based, or mixed media work, explores movement, personhood, the past, the present, nature, and nostalgia. I approach these areas through the process of self-reflexivity. Creating self-portraits is a way for me to get an a root of a moment, feeling, or physical movement. I am also interested in looking the camera in the eye as much as I can, as often I am looking back at myself as a way to confront the equipment, my approach, and the process of looking.

Portals

An ongoing interdisciplinary series-based project
Memories, as I experience them, change as I recall and feel them, particularly to the point where they don't always look or appear to me as they really were. My emotions vary over time, causing memories to flow in waves, appear distorted or fragmented; taking over the mind when least expecting it. Conceptually, this is what I am interested in while exploring Portals, an ongoing interdisciplinary series-based project, composed of digital photography and videobased work. The artwork in this project present as manifestations of emotion and/or as the windows of emotions found in my body. My work historically is subjective in nature and Portals will continue in this aesthetic and practice.

I rely on levels of abstraction and pixelation in my work to render emotion. Manipulated, the images of Portals, whether still or moving, go from overexposed to underexposed; all to explore the intense differences my body can feel from varying states of emotions. These conceptual images interrupt some of the more representational images found in my accompanying videos, which also engage in a visual perception of emotion. For example, this is found in Beneath the Skin, a short silent video poem of mine. 

the strength and body of trees

I am interested in the structure and the bodily form manifested in trees. Whether in full bloom or stripped from growth during winter, trees for me represent strength, stillness, and vulnerability. I find when looking up at trees, because we also find ourselves viewing the sky, a dreaminess quality filters through. I can place all of my thoughts into what I am looking at. Each branch holds a single emotion or moment of reflection. I can imagine, dream, ponder, express, and explore just by looking up at trees.
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