Amanda Charchian
On how her Ikebana-practice turned into a self-study.
Every Sunday, if I’m home in LA, I go to the farmers market and pick up flowers for my Ikebana practice. It’s a Japanese art of arranging flowers that I’ve embraced as a tool to bring out the tranquil, feminine and playful sides of my personality. It’s also a part of my life that most people don’t know about, because although I usually photograph my flower arrangements afterwards, no one ever sees those pictures. Therefore, I chose to portray my love for practising Ikebana as the concept for my self-portrait. Since working with nature brings in an ever-changing element, this is truly a self-portrait in a moment that could never be re-created.
I started the shoot in a very straightforward way but soon ended up in a more playful place. As things moved along, none of the other flowers, nor the clothes I was wearing or the chair and the mirror I had rented, ended up in the picture. Instead, an idea of deconstruction took over. Because sometimes, I think what you strip away is more important than what you see in the end.
“Since working with nature brings in an ever-changing element, this is truly a self-portrait in a moment that could never be re-created.”
Light, space and skin are like spiritual elements to my work. They are always changing, and that’s why it’s so important for me to photograph them. The same applies to a woman’s beauty. It’s a subtle, mysterious energy that is different for every woman. I feel so lucky to be able to understand, explore and learn about women through the lens; it’s kind of like being an anthropologist in a way.