Kathy Mackey: Portraits and Mirrors

2007

In Portraits and Mirrors, photo-media artist Kathy Mackey explores the relationships that occur between metallic and reflective objects—especially jewellery and mirrors—and human skin.

In her skin 'portraits', the viewer is encouraged to interpret the body within a social or group context. Scarification, tattoos, and objects such as jewellery help define the individual’s sense of self and their group affiliation. In a similar way, Mackey uses symbols such as mirrors and jewellery to represent the skin’s threshold between interior and exterior worlds. The viewer is invited to reflect upon the relationships implicit within these elements and to negotiate the boundaries marking inner and outer lives.