Statecraft

Inspired by the classic American politician’s official portrait, I began using my face as a canvas to create dozens of distinct characters. These were constructed through the precise manipulation of hair, makeup, clothing, and expression.

The work functions as a mirror for the viewer’s own internal biases and preferences. By presenting a vast array of different visual presentations, Statecraft challenges the audience to perform an instantaneous, subconscious vetting of each face.

When installed in full, this work utilizes a participatory voting system through which the audience is invited to select the persona they would vote for. Though the method of voting changes with each installation, it is an important element of the piece. On occasion, audience reactions to the characters are documented and incorporated in future installations. Statecraft refers to the skillful management of state affairs or the art of government. The portraits here are some of the tools necessary for crafting and manipulating voters and constituents.

For more information about how visual presentation impacts vote-ability in politics, here are additional resources:

Rosenberg, S.W., Kahn, S. & Tran, T. Creating a political image: Shaping appearance and manipulating the vote. Polit Behav 13, 345–367 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992868

Stockemer, D. and Praino, R. (2015), Blinded by Beauty? Physical Attractiveness and Candidate Selection in the U.S. House of Representatives†. Social Science Quarterly, 96: 430-443. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12155

King, A. and Leigh, A. (2009), Beautiful Politicians. Kyklos, 62: 579-593. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6435.2009.00452.x