Writing this, the tone I wish to convey is that of change. My tendency is to be cartesian, and view my personal growth as something that rests on the input of others and a comparison to unreachable standards. I have always been inspired by myself, but being the sensitive person that I am, that hasn't always meant that I've had faith in myself too. Inspired by our world, and fascinated by cameras, the gift I wanted most for my eighth birthday was--- a camera. Since that birthday I've had many cameras, and a lot of challenges with myself and the work that I do. Constantly trying to achieve a sense of perfection, bringing me down as I dismiss my work and refuse to evolve past myself and my preconceptions. Until my first year in college. Two professors had brought me down to earth: first, An-my Le told me that my eye is true. My eyes go where my pictures follow--- I cannot judge with my mind, but with my eyes. Second, Sasha Phyars-Burgess taught me that identity isn't a truth; such is why my eyes must lead. An identity is ever evolving and ever shifting; attempting to define it is dishonest to your journey.

So, I wish for my work to be a continual new emergence of my identity, embracing change. I've chosen my artist label in this way: "G" is Gaspard, my name, "H" my middle name, Henri, and "K" stands for "Konem," a made-up word combining 'Nikon' and 'EM.' (Thus, from the 1980 Nikon EM) Whereas my logo is a picture I took of a plate of hummus, I looked down and noticed that my pieces of bread, with which I had been eating it, had left a fun drawing on my plate.

Attempting to connect with the world by creating convoluded bridges dilutes genuine connections. What I know is where I've already been, what I've already seen, and that I don't always know how I feel about those things.

Change; I can only become more aware of myself.