Self-portraiture can be an intensely personal process that often results in projecting our deepest thoughts, fears, desires, and identities out into a public sphere. We live in uncertain times that demand a level of honesty and inward contemplation, which reflects the strength of self-portraiture as a tool of inner understanding. In working with four artists through a practice group titled Self Portraiture and Self Representation in Photography, I was immediately struck and touched by their willingness to share emotional, vulnerable, and deeply personal work through self-portraiture.

Over several weeks, Sisel Lan, Beatriz Sokol, Karla Sotelo, Dani Fresh, and I have been sharing and creating work with each other, and in doing so, sharing our experience of COVID, the inner thoughts of what we are facing at this time, and who we are in this present moment. These vulnerable photographs remind me that beneath the anxiety surrounding the pandemic, we are humans dealing with lives that have not stopped even though the world now moves at a crawl.

Under the isolation, modified daily routines, and the changed appearance of the outside world, we are still ourselves, working to understand, manage, and engage with our own personal lives. Life, struggle, legacy, happiness, and connection are still relevant to humanity and are necessary to reflect upon as we strive to move forward into a future of collective health.

This gallery has been curated from the individuals who attended the practice group, as well as images selected from the larger Six Feet community to demonstrate the versatility, emotion, and power of self-portraiture at this time. - Frances Bukovsky

“Throughout Frances' workshop I worked on understanding what I was paying attention to in confinement and why. I began to ask myself certain questions that were part of the process to start a project related to my mother, time and her legacy. “ - Be… — “Throughout Frances' workshop I worked on understanding what I was paying attention to in confinement and why. I began to ask myself certain questions that were part of the process to start a project related to my mother, time and her legacy. “ - Beatriz Sokol

“I have my father’s blue eyes. I also have his big, albeit endearing, but slightly goofy ears.I like to imagine that what they lack in hearing, they make up for in size.Dad’s hearing loss was the result of years in the military and his love of shoot… — “I have my father’s blue eyes. I also have his big, albeit endearing, but slightly goofy ears.
I like to imagine that what they lack in hearing, they make up for in size.
Dad’s hearing loss was the result of years in the military and his love of shooting guns.
My hearing loss, perhaps not quite as drastic as his, is the consequence of relentlessly listening to my music loud and going to punk and hardcore shows.
When I look at them, I remember that initial rebellion and the first time my anger was indicative of a world in disrepair.
His attempt to protect me from the world’s injustices felt well intentioned, but ineffective and naive. Although I’m sure such things are challenging to navigate, it was difficult to have a parent who shielded instead of teaching to cope and process. It always struck me as “off.”
Over time, I realized that the guy didn’t really have ways to cope or process the world either. And I waded through the muddiness of it all--I forgave him and then I forgave myself and made my own way.” - Dani Fresh

“I have been self isolating since the first week of March, so over three months.  It has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least.   One thing I can say for sure is that photography saved my life once again.  It helped me have a f… — “I have been self isolating since the first week of March, so over three months. It has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least. One thing I can say for sure is that photography saved my life once again. It helped me have a focus, get my feelings and emotions out during this time of fear and loneliness.” -Margarita Mavromichalis

“This image is part of a project I worked on during March and April while under Coronavirus lockdown called "Every Day is Today." The project looks at the concept of time during the strange stay-at-home period. It both seems to fly by and stand stil… — “This image is part of a project I worked on during March and April while under Coronavirus lockdown called "Every Day is Today." The project looks at the concept of time during the strange stay-at-home period. It both seems to fly by and stand still. It's a period where the ordinary is unusual; the unusual is mundane' and the mundane is ordinary.” - Rebecca Stumpf

“In the times of Coronavirus everything feels too hard. Fear-driven changes, low mood and anxiety. It seems like things I previously enjoyed no longer hold the same joy. I knew that somehow I had to face my anxiety so I've decided to ignore my fears… — “In the times of Coronavirus everything feels too hard. Fear-driven changes, low mood and anxiety. It seems like things I previously enjoyed no longer hold the same joy. I knew that somehow I had to face my anxiety so I've decided to ignore my fears and worries that are holding me back, and I'm starting with the..."get dressed every day even if you won't leave the house". Hoping for better days to come. My daily routine now is to sleep in, trying to stay home and not going out a lot and spend some time on self reflection. I haven't visited my siblings yet, I only interact with them online. It feels like I've been living in a time warp. Am I taking it to the extreme?” -Betty Mansousos

Frances Bukovsky is a multimedia artist who earned a BFA with Honors in Photography and Imaging from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2018. Bukovsky explores themes of health, gender, family, and memory through her photographic work. In her upcoming book Vessel. published by Fifth Wheel Press, she explores life after a hysterectomy and rejects the imposed narratives of femaleness that have outlined her struggle for comprehensive, informed treatment.

The Self Within the Outside World - Frances Bukovsky