Beneath the Mask: Dreamscapes of Suburbia
Artist Statement by Kitty Quinn, Photographed by Milan Lazovski, Makeup by Kitty Quinn, Model: Halina Newland
10/11/2023
Within the realm of artistic creation, dreams have emerged as an ethereal bridge that traverses the gap between the conscious and subconscious. They resemble whispered secrets from the depths of our minds, utilizing unique symbolism and narratives to unveil a tapestry of emotions, both hidden and apparent. In the context of Starmaker Machine, I have consistently discovered dreams serving a broader purpose, profoundly influencing me creatively and becoming an enigmatic muse in the process.
I often find myself eagerly anticipating sleep at night, the thrill of fleeting glimpses into the uncharted corners of my psyche compelling me to dive headfirst into this seemingly bottomless pool of human imagination. Like the lane lines guiding a swimmer, I glide through uncharted realms of thought, emotion, and expression, discovering a sanctuary where boundaries blur, reality melds with fantasy, and the mundane metamorphoses into the extraordinary.
This ethereal dance is mirrored not only in my makeup artistry but also in Milan's photography, as well as our collaborative creative direction. Personally, I draw inspiration from the kaleidoscope of emotions experienced in dreams—the unbridled intensity of buried memories, the childlike wonder inspired by unknown landscapes, and the conversations sparked by unlikely companions. These elements converge to compose a visual narrative that is simultaneously deeply personal and universally resonant.
The theme of suburbia also plays a significant role in this particular piece, adding a layer of complexity to this dreamlike reality. Suburbia, in its juxtaposition to the unpredictability of dreams, embodies the dichotomy of comfort and conformity. However, suburbia can also be described as a dream of its own, possessing a unique allure due to an undercurrent where the facade of ordinary life conceals a multitude of suppressed desires and secret longings.
Within this simple and unassuming landscape, a pristine mask of contentment conceals the face of simmering discontent, with hushed whispers of unfulfilled dreams echoing through tidy streets, incessantly prodding the beholder like a persistent pest. In this context, suburbia becomes a symbol of the human experience, a microcosm poised between the known and unknown, the mundane and the extraordinary.
In our ongoing exploration of the relationship between dreams and creativity, we view suburbia not merely as a backdrop but as a thematic cornerstone—a place where the human spirit grapples with the desire for both security and freedom. Dreams, in their evanescent beauty, inspire us to push the boundaries of artistic expression, to peer behind the curtains of suburbia, and to share the captivating secrets concealed beneath the surface. In essence, this shoot serves as a testament to the profound influence of dreams and the thematic intricacies of suburbia on the human spirit, inviting all to embark on a thought-provoking journey through the landscapes of the mind and the heart.
