Artist Statement
Mucalinda: Self-Portrait + Self-Reflection
Linda Troeller
*Mucalinda was a serpent king that emerged from the earth and protected Buddha with his hood. The title is a metaphor for coming to terms with the multiplicity of my life.”
Since a young woman, I have taken self-portraits with a variety of photographic media. Very often I take self-portraits to re-enter my life, feel an emotion, and verify that I am here. I recognize that photography enables me to feel strong and reclaim myself. I use the camera as a method for healing, and through my work I overcome my weaknesses. These self-portraits function as a conduit for tearing myself apart and rebuilding my self-esteem. Knowing and accepting who I am, how I look and what I want—is very important to me as a woman.
Self-reflection is reassurance for our psyche. French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan coined the term “the mirror stage,” which refers to early development in which an infant sees his own likeness, watches and feels his body move, and realizes for the first time that he is the master of his own corporal form. The camera is our interpretative wand that points us to,
“Who am I?”
“What is natural?”
“What is borderline?”
“What is eternal? “
I have looked at myself throughout the years in many different circumstances: obsessions, addictions, reveries, deepest depressions, stigma, abuse, healing, and sexuality. The point of my life is to be exposed, and the point of my vision is to be vitally opened. This is my way of knowing that I will prevail.
For me, a photograph could be radiation or it could be radiating. I like the dual aspect. It allows us to reflect on things that take us forward or gave us pause. There is a sense of timelessness and daydream.
She has a MFA from Syracuse University in Photography and has taught at many universities. Her books include
Healing Waters, Aperture; Erotic Lives of Women, Scalo; Chelsea Hotel Atmosphere among others. She won Pictures of the Year, and named Women of Achievement for her TB-AIDS Diary. Her photographs are in many collections including University of Texas, Austin and Library of Congress. Her website is www.lindatroeller.com
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