sleepwalking

Sleepwalking Series

Sleepwalking examines isolation in the suburbs and how a sense of danger often accompanies seemingly idyllic environments. As the family historian, I record moments of in-betweenness that result in candid and uncontrived family images. Initially, I intended to photograph my aunt and her daughter as first-time Black homeowners in their new Connecticut home and to capture a significant life milestone. However, as the project progressed, I turned the camera onto myself and became part of the narrative. My work transformed into constructed and story-driven scenes, utilizing my family and myself to express the angst we feel daily in our lives and homes.

Influenced by “slasher” and horror films and their often eerie, surreal perception of the world, the single-family home became the stage to portray isolation, anxiety, and voyeurism that exist under the illusion of safety and normalcy. I create images that capture the visceral thrills of these types of films. As I stand behind and in front of the camera, registering the discomfort and vulnerability of these three women inside their home, I dream up a distorted reality and ask myself, “Am I awake or sleepwalking?”