Kalliope Amorphous is an artist whose primary body of work has evolved into an exploration of the conceptual self-portrait photograph as a catalyst for exploring ideas of identity, gender, archetype and myth. Her work ranges from interpretations of pre-existing iconography to compositions meant purely to provoke and challenge perceptions and first impressions. Self-taught in photography, Kalliope takes an intuitive approach to composition and lighting and works without the aid of professional lighting or studio equipment. Makeup, costuming, photography, and post processing are all selfcreated. Kalliope is a recipient of the 2010 Julia Margaret Cameron award for self-portraiture photography. She has exhibited and published her work throughout the United States and internationally. www.kalliopeamorphous.com
I am not a photographer or a narcissist. I am an artist with a camera. I want to push the boundaries of what I define as “self” and “other” by playing with ideas of identity, gender, archetype, myth, emotion and the various visual interpretations and possibilities that exist within them. I am continually drawn to concepts involving the subconscious, alienation, isolation, time, memory and transcendence. I can more deeply explore my conceptual visions by embracing the roles of both photographer and subject. I feel that to define a feeling depreciates a feeling. Art is a way to convey the intangible in a way that is undefined yet at the same time tangible, as it is fixed in time and open to the interpretation of the viewer. For me, photography is visual poetry. Self-Portraiture evolved as a result of my artistic desire to work with conceptual portrait photography, coupled with my reclusive personality. I do not consider myself a photographer, but rather an artist using the camera as another tool to create. My tools are very basic and I work without the use of professional lighting or other studio equipment.