Two photographs of the same woman, looking directly at the camera. In one, her dark hair is unbrushed and she is wearing no makeup. In the other, her hair is brushed and she is wearing makeup.
Aisling Dunne, Before and After, 2023.

Aisling Dunne

Before and After, 2023

Photograph | Diptych: Unframed: 28 x 42 cm each; Framed: 30.5 x 45.7 cm each

‘I took these photographs straight after waking. Before is my “just woken up” face, an act of defiance. After, with my mask in place, I am acceptable. I am both of these people. In making this work, I am questioning the way we present ourselves. I want to challenge the idea of the persona, which lies between our ego and society and is distorted further by social media culture, packaged “transformations”, and the incessant need for validation.’ 

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