Unexpected uses for a cardboard box

Imaginary Window 1, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Imaginary Window 2, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

As a response to the brief, I wanted to respond to the cardboard box how a child might, as children can take mundane objects and use their imagination to see potential in them.  This led me to imagining the cardboard box as a window into another world, which I visually communicated by creating these photo manipulations which transport the viewer from the run-down interior into a brighter, natural exterior.

Photo collages

Ambiguity Collage, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo collage

I created a series of physically manipulated photo collages to represent a conflict of identities and to present the viewer with an ambiguous image in an attempt to frustrate the viewer as they try to identify the gender of the subject.

Double Exposures

Chadlotte 1, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Chadlotte 2, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Chadlotte 3, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Chadlotte 4, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I wanted to revisit creating double exposures, this time using darker backgrounds so the skin tones stand out more rather than fading into their surroundings.  I used more recent imagery so that Chad's shorter hair could juxtapose Charlotte's long hair.

Manipulated Portraits

Pinned, Chaz Howkins, 2016, manipulated photographs

Sewn, Chaz Howkins, 2016, manipulated photographs

Further manipulated portraits to represent a struggle of being torn between identities.

Manipulated Portraits

Torn Apart, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo collage

Further collaging of Charlotte and Chad to represent hiding an alternative identity but having it show through.

Manipulated Portraits

Hide, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic on photograph 

Cover Up, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic on photograph

Burn Out, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Torn Out, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I manipulated these portraits using physical methods such as painting, drawing, burning and ripping so that the subject is distorted and their identity is questioned.  I used physical manipulation techniques rather than digital to give the images more presence and make them more personal.

Manipulated Portraits

Crossover 1, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Crossover 2, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Crossover Sections, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I collaged images of Charlotte and Chad to represent an internal conflict of identity and to explore the extent to which you can cross over features of characters of different genders before their gender is questioned.

Woven Portraits

Woven Portraits, Chaz Howkins, 2016, woven photographs

Manipulated Double Exposures

Fluidity Symbol, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation and paint

After creating a postcard sized drawing of this image, I felt it would work well on a larger scale so I splattered paint over an A3 print out of the image.  I feel it was more successful as a drawing due to how the symbol becomes lost within the colour, so my next step is either to paint the symbol over a black and white print out or to draw image again on a larger scale.

Gender Definitions

Gender Fluid Definition,  Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

One of my aims with this project was to educate and raise awareness of commonly overlooked gender identities such as gender fluidity; I feel this piece could be a useful tool in education.

Gender is...

Gender is a Social Construct,  Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

Gender is a Spectrum,  Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

I felt that the double/triple exposures of myself as various characters were interesting but more could be done to them, so I added text to them to reinforce the points I was trying to get across.

This makes the images perhaps too literal, so I may experiment with further ways of expressing gender as a spectrum.

Digital Triple Exposures

Triple Exposure 1, Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation 

 Triple Exposure 2, Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

Following my series of double exposures of Chaz vs Chad, I realised I was reinforcing the concept of gender as binary, which I don't agree with.  I decided to include three portraits in these photo manipulations so that the two characters weren't just male and female but rather portrayed gender as a spectrum.

Digital Double Exposures

Opposites,  Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

Crossover,  Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation 

Duality,  Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

After my frustration and disappointment with attempting to create double exposures using a film camera, I decided to go digital so I could fully realise my intentions of overlaying multiple images of myself dressed up as Chaz and Chad.

Gender Dysphoria

Longing, Chaz Howkins, 2015, photo manipulation

This photo is a simplistic portrayal of gender dysphoria as the doll stares at himself in the mirror, not recognising himself in the body he was born into.