Feature Artist: Dorothy Shoes

http://www.dorothy-shoes.com
http://dorothy-shoes.deviantart.com
http://www.myspace.com/missdorothyshoes

      Dorothy Shoes is a twenty-seven year old French photographer. She considers herself to be "impish" and a "fanciful and greedy artist." She tries to speak to the heart, and also considers herself to be an "all-land dream traveller."

      She comes from a theatre background, acting and staging dramas. She worked as a designer before she bought her first camera, about a year and a half ago.
A picture lover, she's a self-educated photographer. She uses Photography as her favourite and strongest language. She says there's "so much to say without any spoken words. I'm a visual stager and a story teller. I want to put our minds on tables and our imaginations on our plates. I want to express those emotions people generally try to hide and all those dreams they've given up and left on the side of the road."

SM: What led you to decide to become an artist?

DS: It's not a choice. I can't help it. It couldn't be a different way.
Creating is etched inside my stomach.

SM: How would you describe the content of your photographs?

DS: It's hard for me to describe my work… Because I don't think my photographs come from my brain. I can't cleverly explain the content of my pictures. I don't follow a straight line… What I can say is that I don't want aestheticism just for aestheticism. Beauty is not mute. Most of my work is so obvious. Maybe elementary. As I breathe, eat, and have sex..

SM: Do you frequently misplace things?

DS: Sure. All the time. For example, I often lose my car. And I'll walk around my block for a really, really long time before I find it. That's why I'm so late sometimes.

SM: Most of you are photographs on Deviantart.com feature one figure in an environment. Did you make a conscious choice to do this, or does it just happen? Why do you think this works so well for you, as opposed to say, still lifes, or groups of people?

DS: Interesting question. I've been working for a while on the theme of "loneliness acceptance." I guess it's a part of the answer. The other part is maybe because I like to put my focus on one person. Carefully, one by one. I guess it's a bit the same in my private life. I can't share my heart between many people. Because when I decide to share it, I really do, I never ask for my piece back. Never.
I like to share "intimate and special" moments with my models. It's the way I work. One idea. One hour with someone. And make something happen between us, not always under my control.

SM: Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?

DS: Oh ! More than only problems. I'm totally an insomniac. Night is my worst enemy. I have the feeling that I'm gonna miss something if I go to bed early. I want to stay awake when everybody sleeps. It's like it's evidence of my own freedom. But it's not easy to live with everyday.

SM: Do you prefer digital or traditional photography? How much do you use digital manipulation to alter your photographs?

DS: Everything is about your sincerity in the way you work. It's all about what you want to express. Or what the picture expresses by itself. For me digital or traditional is not the real subject to discuss. The real question for the photographer is whether the picture he made is the result that he wanted to show.

I use soft digital manipulation ( contrast, enhancer, unsaturation ), and i'm not ashamed at all about that. Manipulation has always been used even in traditional photography.
The most important for me is to express my creativity and imagination. To get pleasure.
Manipulation or not? Who cares? Primarily, I do my art for me, my selfish orgasm.

SM: What is your favorite book (or top five)?

DS: I'm not a reader. Maybe because my mother is a writer. Who knows.
I'm reading actually Premier Degré by Erwan Larher, a very talented French author. I've not finished it yet. But I already know that I'm in love with the author's style.
One of my favourite is L'Amour Dans Les Prisons by Maryse Choisy, author and psychoanalyst. This book is about sexual tensions in jail, prisoners frustrations, and idealism residues. She wrote it in 1930 but it could be today.
Photography Books : Architect's Brother by Parke Harrisson and The Shadow Chamber by Roger Ballen.

SM: Do you often worry that you are not getting enough exercise, or not eating well?

DS: I don't care about healthy food or exercise. I know I probably should. But I don't take the time for it. Appearances are really not my priority. I can play with appearances, for sure. Hey come on, I'm a girl, and I like to feel attractive (in my personal way). But deep inside I just don't care at all. What about my health? I guess, you're right, I should think more about it. Thanks for asking.

SM: What would you cite as your biggest influences, both inside and outside the art world?

DS: My biggest influence is definitely Jacques Brel, The Belgium singer. The charismatic and magnetic man. And the particular way he speaks about life and human beings.
For photography, Roger Ballen. He's a stager like I am. His look is simply unique. Far different from everything I've known before in photography art. Another dimension.


SM: If an illness or disorder were named after you, what would it be called? What are its symptoms?

DS: It would be called "Tragical Comedy."

Symptoms : To be, at the same time, as deeply happy, trusting and enthusiastic, then depressed, pessimistic and world-weary.
Fortunately, in my trajectory, optimism will always win first place. It's a promise I make to myself.

SM: What piece of art do you wish you'd done? Why?

DS: An opera. To write music, to play it, to stage it, and to sing it.

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