A few years back I bought some pre-loved dolls from the local market for a one-off art installation inside a wooden Victorian birdcage. This proved fortuitous in 2020 when I began to have some vague ideas about what I could do regarding COVID and the loneliness of being stuck at home. The dolls were quickly pressed into new duties as actors in the tableaus I began to create and photograph using a recently bequeathed second-hand phone. They did prove frustrating at times, as they were not designed to stand up on their own, but Blu Tack helped - along with some legerdemain.
US President Donald Trump also became the gift that kept on giving and, luckily, I found two trolls, a female ("Queen Melania") and a red-headed male, who was the perfect Trump stand-in: the grown offspring never did get around to clearing out the now empty-nest bedroom and it proved to be a handy treasure trove. Other props were fashioned out of whatever else was lying about that house that could be reimagined.
The backdrops were difficult at first, until I worked out that a clothes drying-rack propped up on the ironing-board and positioned on one side of a desk was just the right height for draping gleaned items, such as sheets, clothing, and Japanese door curtains. Lighting proved a bit unsatisfactory, as I was relying on daylight to begin with, but as I became more confident I experimented with desk lamps, especially for creating a moody atmosphere. I also began to venture outdoors for other shots, which had its own challenges..
Apart from my own musings, I have referenced artists, writers, songs, the big screen, spoutings from politicians, and notions from the zeitgeist. As of writing this, Trump has been removed from office; the troll is back on the shelf. I still have ideas for other tableaus - there will be more coming...