On exhibition are a series of black and white portraits that took four years to complete due to the bold and unexpected subject matter. Armpriester photographed each sitter in one of the most vulnerable conditions a person can be in, a state of crying -- each sitter had their portrait taken while crying. The series came about because the artist was attempting to understand and address the passing of his mother. Armpriester enlisted the aid of strangers to cry his tears, although each sitter had their own reasons for crying during the taking of the portrait, Armpriester's agenda (unknown to the sitters) was much different. The artist was collecting tears that he himself could not bring forth for fear of mental collapse.Personal Water can be understood as a series of photographs that counters and challenges the cultural norm that demands the individual smile while being photographed. This exhibition celebrates an emotion that most people are unwilling to share in public. We are expected to keep this emotion private at all times, Personal Water rejects that idea. The four years spent photographing people in such a vulnerable state gave the artist an insight into the healing power of art, an insight that was previously only theory.
Gallery hours (February)Tuesday- Friday 12:00pm to 4:00pm Sat.- Sun. 11:00am to 3:00pm
Image: Personal Water #1
