Words: Anna Conn (Everything is Beautiful)

Images: Ariana Page Russell

Ariana Page Russell has found a unique muse for her photography – her own
skin.   Growing up with a skin condition called dermatographia, her skin is
not only her inspiration, but a canvas and medium as well, allowing her to
produce welts and flushing with ease.  While the condition is not something
she can control, it is something she can manipulate, creating images that
call our attention to human vulnerability and adornment. Since she began this venture, Ariana has produced a broad spectrum of
methods and forms in her work, including collages, adhesive tattoos and
wallpaper designs.  This variation allows us to look at skin from many
different perspectives, and perhaps reconsider our own assumptions about the
role this important organ plays in our lives.  For most of us, adornment is a method of self expression, while also
concealing our vulnerability and physicality.   Ariana creates a sort of
paradox by adorning herself with her own skin and its inherent sensitivity.
As she so eloquently puts it, “I am investigating where one surface ends and
another begins, the bloom of adornment, and how shifting exteriors reveal as
they conceal.”

What kind of skin condition do you have, and how do you use it in your
work?

I have dermatographia, which causes welts to form when I lightly scratch my
skin.  It’s been part of my work for the past six years.  First I started
documenting patterns drawn on my skin, then I began making collages with
photographs of my skin in varying shades of pinks and reds.  Now I make the
skin collages into temporary tattoos and adorn myself with my skin.

How did you become interested in photography, what draws you to it as a
medium?

The versatility of photography is appealing, as is the democratic quality
of the medium.  Everyone understands photographs to some degree
because we’re so used to seeing images.  It makes sense for my ideas because
I can document the fleeting designs I place on my skin.

What kind of camera/film do you use?

I use a range: Mamiya Twin Lens Reflex medium format, Minolta x700 35mm,
Canon 5D digital SLR (I don’t own one, just have people help me that have
one), and snapshot film and digital cameras.  I prefer film but for my newer
work digital makes more sense.

What are your current inspirations?

Skin, faces, fashion, American Indian war paint, and living in close
quarters with millions of people.

Do you have any exhibitions coming up?

Yes!  I have a show at Platform Gallery in Seattle opening May 13th called
Save Face.

Who are your favorite photographers?

Whew that’s a tough one!  Cindy Sherman has been a huge inspiration to me
for many years, and I really like the photographs of Anna Gaskell, Catherine
Opie, William Eggleston, Janine Antoni, Thomas Demand, Nikki S Lee, Bruce
Nauman, Yasumasa Morimura, Mickalene Thomas, Hannah Wilke, Ming Wong, and
Francesca Woodman, to name just a few.

Both blushing and sensitive skin can connote vulnerability, how does the
idea of vulnerability play in to your work, if at all?

Vulnerability is a huge part of my work.  For example, I feel vulnerable
being the subject of my photographs.  And having sensitive skin means my
emotions are often written all over my face, whether I like it or not.
Rather than being annoyed by this transparency I’m embracing it as a unique
quality of my skin.  Being vulnerable makes us human!

Tell us about your book, Dressing, and where we can get it.

Dressing came out last year and is published by Decode Press in Seattle.
It is a collection of photographs from the Dressing photographic series and
has a hand tipped photograph (5 x 7″) inside.  You can get it at Platform
Gallery in Seattle, Lisa Sette Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona or on Decode’s
website.

Your work explores the idea of adornment… how do you consider the role of
adornment in our society?  What role does it take in your own life?

Life is too short to ignore beauty.  Adornment enables us to show our
originality because it reflects our personalities; this makes me happy.

What is the most significant part of your creative process?

Being patient and letting things transform as they need to.  My ideas never
really manifest exactly how I think they will, but I’m always pleased with
the process and the results.  And since my work is about my body, I can
never escape it.

—

[View with PicLens]

Ariana began her career in Seattle and is now based in New York City.  She
continues to show in both locations.  To see the rest of her work, please
visit her website.  Her book, Dressing,
can be purchased here.