Alan Proosa
The intrigue in Alan Proosa’s photographic installation is quite obvious. The series is centred around a portrait of the actress Kärt Tammjärv – it is simple, beautiful and clear-cut. The portrait is surrounded by self-portraits of the artist as a drag queen. The naked body refers to exposing oneself, yet the mask-like make-up on the artist’s face or the veil positioned between the viewer and the model – which reminds the audience of Proosa’s love of symbolism – also points to uncertainty. The ideal looks straight into the camera – confidently, while also being kind and natural. The issue the artist is trying to articulate is not the right and the courage to define oneself, but the aggressiveness that often comes with that freedom of self-determination, which turns something natural into something rather fake and grotesque.
Considering the fact that so far Proosa has not focused on self-portraits in his work, it seems that it is not only a current, but also a personal issue.
ALAN PROOSA. Estonian Girl. 2014. Inkjet print on aluminum. 49×70 cm