Hiding but still not knowing
In this photographic self-portrait, Linder uses clichés from fashion to create the appearance of wealth and glamour. This impression is undermined, however, by her greasy hair, badly applied lipstick and hole-ridden lacy top. Her wide-eyed, defiant expression makes it seem as though she might be there against her will. The plastic wrapped around her mouth simultaneously evokes traditional bridal wear, kitchen packaging such as cling film and gear used in bondage and BDSM. The sitter’s three-quarter pose and the black-and-white colour reference the conventions of Victorian studio photography, while the large scale of the image creates an immediate confrontation between the sitter and viewer. The alluring yet sinister composition questions the way in which women fashion themselves and for whom.