The Under Skin series was born out of a year of extensive international travel, which included six weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, and several months in Mumbai, India. The year highlighted and re-enforced how interconnected, interdependent and alike we all are. We all have impressions and memories we house under our skin and these influence how we react and function in the world. These impressions and memories shape us. Patterns, both conscious and unconscious, are created. These patterns affect our individual relations with the world and how we negotiate our internal and external lives.

What would it mean to try and capture some of these moments in children - at the time in which the patterns are being created?

The notion of the innocence of children is largely constructed by adults. I have not selected to work with children because of this illusion. Children know what is happening around them; they are very aware of their surroundings and station in life. Between child soldiers, street children, poverty, and crimes against children, I know that there are many children wiser to human natures, and human failings, than I. Despite the fact that many children’s lives are far from innocent, I believe that the values of childhood innocence must be preserved and fought for as a natural right.

I have chosen to work with the subject matter of children due to their impressionability and to highlight the moment of the creation of a pattern. Under Skin is a collection of various children’s impressions. Rohit is running through a flock of pigeons. He is completely engaged in the activity. Nothing else is on his mind. He is enjoying his effect on the birds and their flight. I imagine this moment of engagement will stay with him and he will seek it out again and again.

A pattern is being formed.