SHOTGUN BAPTISM

2016-Present

Shotgun Baptism embodies the negation of bodily autonomy. The dense watery ‘vortex’ in which the subjects are submerged depict various stages of entrapment. Like a psychological undercurrent, stereotypes attempt to dislocate. The title of this body of work, Shotgun Baptism, is a combination of terms that imply a coercive ceremonial induction to rigid religious standards. The directions given by the artist to motivate the actor’s performances involved personal associations to the existing power structure.

Images sized at 40”x60” or larger, mounted on metal. Hand-welded metal structures are customized according to exhibition space.
(Do not use, recreate, or post without explicit permission. All images copyright Ash Thayer.)