After looking into the idea of experimenting with photographing roses and using self portraiture throughout my work, I looked into the work of Frida Kahlo.
One piece of work in particular stood out to me ‘Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird’. I was especially drawn to the thorn necklace which she wears around her neck and soon realised that the petals of the roses were not so much of an interest to me as the thorn below them.
When researching into the symbolism behind the thorn necklace which appears in the self portrait I found ‘The thorn necklace could allude to Christ’s crown of thorns, thus likening herself to a Christian martyr, and representing the pain and anguish she felt after her failed romantic relationships.’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Portrait_with_Thorn_Necklace_and_Hummingbird
Although not religious, I found the link to Christ interesting especially when relating it to pain. This is something that I want to incorporate into my own work.
Final Major Project Kirsty Powell 