This project began as a casual observation ‘I love when you can feel the human movement and wear through a building’. This type of wear has a particular name - its called a desire line. A desire line is made by human or animal footfall, where they have taken their own chosen path, through a space or landscape.
I began to wonder could this notion of a desire line be applied to our skin? Could the wear and movement of our body reflect our intentions and choices, in the forms of our creases and wrinkles on our body?
With a particular focus on the female gaze, I invited a small group of 14 women to be part of the project. I took a close-up profile shot of each of the women and before I took the photograph, I asked them to think of a heartfelt desire, so there was a direct choice and intention behind their gaze or their desire line.
The Oxford Dictionary defines the gaze as to look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought. In critical theory, the gaze offers comment on the relationship between the observer and the observed.
When I asked this direct question, it drew a number of different responses of focus, contemplation, laughter and joy. What I loved about this moment is that no one revealed what they had thought - it was a private moment. And all that I was left with, was an impression of what that thought made on their skin. From which I made jewellery of the body, for the body.
If you are interested in having your own Intention Line created. Please get in touch here