Interview: Rebecca Marimutu
By Lia J. Latty
Published: February 23, 2024
Did you always know you wanted to be a creative and a photographer?
REBECCA: While creativity has always been an integral part of my identity, I didn’t initially know of the possibility of pursuing it as a career. My journey towards becoming a photographer was an unexpected one. I was passionate about painting as a child, stealing my sisters’ acrylic paints and painting behind my mother’s headboard. And although I had been around cameras since I was a child, photography wasn’t the path I had envisioned for myself; I didn’t know how to make it work for me yet.
It was during my time in college that the medium of photography found its way into my artistic practice. It was its basis in capturing light, and its unique capacity to encapsulate concepts directly and in such a visceral way deeply resonated with me. Since that first photography course, I have remained committed to broadening my artistic practice rooted in photography.
What inspirations influence your work?
REBECCA: My work encompasses a diverse spectrum of influences, ranging from my personal history to the broader societal and cultural narratives that inform our collective reality. The photography of artists like Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Carrie Mae Weems, JungJin Lee, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, well known for their contributions to the medium, has been pivotal in shaping my creative journey and how I view what the photograph can do for the viewer.
My consistent exploration of contemporary artists through attending art shows and museums and looking at work outside of photography continually inspires me to expand my definitions of photography, and now I approach my work. Observing how these artists push the boundaries of their respective mediums encourages me to experiment, evolve, and expand traditional photographic norms to help redefine the artistic potential of this visual medium.
What is your process like when you’re working with self-portraiture?
REBECCA: My process in self-portraiture is an exploration of self-examination. It begins in the studio, where I capture the initial photographs. These raw images are the foundation upon which I build my creative vision. In the post-processing stage, I utilize photography processing tools from the Adobe conglomerate to fine-tune and post-process the images. I often have a specific means of physical intervention in mind. This could involve collage, pattern creation, painting, sculptural integration, or other experimental approaches. I aim to translate what is in my head into a tangible art piece and to bring my thought experiments into reality.
My process aims to reimagine my photographic representation, challenging the experience of being seen and projected upon. Through physical manipulations, my goal is to expand the definitions of self and portraiture. I subvert the white gaze by intervening between image capture and the final piece. All my digital shots undergo physical manipulation. These interventions empower me to control my self-representation, fostering a nuanced dialogue between the artist, artwork, and viewer.
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How do you navigate the world of contemporary photography?
REBECCA: Navigating the landscape of contemporary photography can be a complex experience. As an artist as well as a photography professor, it is essential to stay engaged with the broader creative community. I frequently connect with fellow artists, critics, and audiences to gain insights into the diverse perspectives within contemporary photography and art as a whole. These interactions inspire me to challenge the conventions and push the boundaries of the medium.
They also inspire me to remain committed to infusing a tactile and physical dimension into my work. My work is rooted in the photographic image, but sometimes, I feel as though my work resides at the intersection of photography and something else. But by continually exploring this intersection, I want to demonstrate that photography can be a versatile and ever-evolving medium that transcends traditional limitations.
How do you define your relationship with photography?
REBECCA: My relationship with photography is a nuanced one. It is the foundation of my artistic journey and career and a versatile tool for creation, empowering me to bring my ideas and visions to the real world. It has provided a platform for self-expression, allowing me to delve into the exploration of my identity and challenge established misconceptions.
While I hold a deep affection for this medium, I also feel its limitations, and that can sometimes feel constricting. My approach to photography is to embrace its rigidity at times while simultaneously seeking opportunities to transcend these constraints, working to push the boundaries of what photography can be and achieve.
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“While I hold a deep affection for this medium, I also feel its limitations, and that can sometimes feel constricting.”
I see in your work how you push the boundaries of photography as a medium and how it can take shape as a sculptural form. I also see how that plays out with your use of abstract visual elements. In your own view, how do you see your work potentially contributing to photography’s visual evolution as a medium?
REBECCA: I aim to question the conventions that have long-defined photography. My work is a deliberate effort to reshape the landscape of photography as a medium, redefine its boundaries, and contribute to the evolution of photography by challenging and subverting established norms. With my use of sculpture in my work, abstract visual elements form when attaching 2D self-portraits to sculptural forms. This process abstracts the images and blurs the line between two and three dimensions in photography, enabling it to inhabit new artistic spaces.
In my work, I encourage viewers to reconsider the constraints and expectations often accompanying photography and representation. It’s an invitation to perceive photography as a versatile and evolving medium, capable of engaging with multiple dimensions and transcending conventional limitations. I hope my work encourages others to explore the potential of photography and embrace a broader vision of its future.
What do you hope people take away from your imagery?
REBECCA: My primary goal with my work is to spark introspection and accountability. Like any artist, I want my art to initiate more extensive discussions that extend beyond the artwork. I want to inspire viewers to embark on exploration and critical thinking by encouraging them to challenge their beliefs, biases, and perceptions, especially in the intricate domains of race, identity, and representation.
I look to make the audience more conscious of their desires and preconceptions, encouraging them to reconsider what they seek and why when encountering photographic representations of Black individuals. This is especially significant in the context of my self-portrait work as a woman/femme, a deeply personal and vulnerable space closely tied to my lived experiences.