Title of the photograph: The Dual Representation

This image is a combination of nine portraits expressing both my virtual and real-life identities. Specifically, the pictures displayed on the iPad are the digital avatars that I have used throughout my life on social media, which are mostly my pet cat.

This image matches my statement of intent: I originally aimed to demonstrate the contrast of an individual’s representation between the physical and digital realms, and the approach individuals take to express their identities. In the photograph above, I present my physical body in the lower section of the image while showcasing my digital avatars by utilizing an iPad that covers up my face in the upper half of the image, in order to create contrasts in the audience’s perception of my identity in reality and online.

Yet, I attempt to imitate the gesture of my cat avatar displayed on the iPad to show similarities between different realms of representation. Mimicking identical movements conveys the message that although individuals could potentially present themselves in very different ways physically and virtually, their internal personalities may be consistent, regardless of their appearances.

My portrait aligns with the images on the moldboard (which can be accessed by visiting the blog of Identity: Connect), as most of the photos in the mindmap mostly utilize iPads to cover up the individual’s face while displaying a different representation on the screen, and I employ iPads as well to conceal my face while revealing my physical body to create contrast.

All elements of the display support the central theme of ‘Duality of Representation within Individuals’, as the upper section of each nine portraits represents my digital identity on the iPad, and the lower section of each nine photos demonstrates my identity in reality, which is the physical body.

I would like to attract the audience’s attention immediately to the upper section of the portrait, which reflects my digital avatar, and then the audience’s eyes would transfer to the lower sections of the photograph that exhibit my body, hopefully noticing that some of my physical movement aligns with my digital avatar’s motion. Thus, the audience is most likely to carry the emotion of curiosity and intrigue when looking at my photograph.

There are indeed some distractions in the photograph. For instance, I could adjust the lighting on the iPad to balance the light of the screen, my body, and the background. This is because I think the light focused on the iPad is a bit bright compared to the other objects displayed in the photograph. Therefore, by modifying the light more appropriately during the Photoshop process, I could enhance the intended contrast between physical and digital identity as well as attract the audience more effectively.