Objects of Investigation

Objects of Investigation is a project that subversively confronts mainstream media’s depiction of the Islamic community. The body of work was completed in 2003 during an Artist In Residence at Light Works in Syracuse, New York.  The photographic diptychs are composed of portraits of Muslims from the local community and a set of prayer beads attached by a string to a fabricated evidence tag. I randomly asked people on the streets of Syracuse to complete the tags.

 By creating diptychs and using a subtle play on words, I attempted to evoke an investigative role.  It is intended that one questions the placement of religious beads in an environment, which suggests criminal activity.  I also became interested in creating layers of social, cultural, and political ironies using anonymous jargon (found in the evidence tags).  The diverse prayer beads are comparable to the diversity of the religion; differentiated by physical attributes, culture, race, and geographic location.