r a c h e l BERKOWITZ

Represented by GALLERY 1202:

www.gallery1202.com

https://www.artsy.net/artist/rachel-berkowitz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S7msw32rAQ&feature=youtu.be

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1068789370/fairfax-royalty-photography-series

All photographs available for Sale upon request

For more graduation examples, see flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133164906@N03/albums/with/72157654683255145

Isolation Portraits: Nightmare of the Forgotten Self

This series was created during the historic time of quarantine, it is acknowledging the cultural context of what it means to be living during the lockdown. Pushing the conversation to reference time and mental stability when everything else is fundamentally unstable. Rachel was at an artist residency in La Napoule France before the lockdown began, and as a result, she was stranded for months in a strange place, with people she barely knew during the pandemic. In this work, she is seen with the Quimera Mask by Tadeo Muleiro, who was also a resident in the program.

"Looking deep within yourself and exploring personal reflections that highlight your inner fears. During this time of Isolation, humanity has been given the time to explore and embrace the inner shadows that have been hiding amidst the distractions of everyday normality. Finding these negative issues that bother us in dreams and in our subconscious thoughts need to be addressed for positive thinking to be heightened. Overcoming inner turmoils allows for clarity and new insights into approaching how we live our lives." - Berkowitz

A constant knocking

Awakens the forgotten self.

Illusions of internal nightmares

Dance around an empty room.

Escape with me.

As in Paradise Lost,

“The mind is its own place.

And in itself

Can make a

Heaven of Hell,

A Hell of Heaven.”

Monsters of the mind

Can rarely be tamed.

Releasing trapped emotions.

The female body acts as a vessel

For organic transformations of buried desires.

Performing rituals of chaotic consumption

Glorifying the physical need for constant affirmation.

The shadow of the sea

Vibrates against the constant drumming

Of the waning moon.

This theatrical production of life

Shapes the fearful concept of time.

Dualities merge

Against the rigid grids of

Polarities.

Forgiving oneself.

Reflecting on

The uncertainty of human morality.

Adrenaline, Fear, Hope, Longing,

Temptation.

But mostly,

Vulnerability.

Modern Mystics: Portraits of Los Angeles Psychics

Modern Mystics: Portraits of Los Angeles Psychics, is a project contrived years back when I first moved from London to Los Angeles in 2012. I have always had a deep interest in the supernatural. Ghosts, magic, witches and spiritual signs intrigued me as a child, and have continued to excite me well into my adulthood. Growing up in London, I never met or came across a human who claimed they had extra sensory powers. In Los Angeles, multitudes of psychic storefronts line the city, with some blocks containing numerous different psychic facades. This abundance of storefronts grabbed my attention immediately as a visual artist. My artwork, in both painting and photography, concerns the spiritual elements behind risk taking with symbols alluding to fate, luck and chance. In this global pandemic, I have discovered how fragile mentality can be when living under deep uncertainty, universally fighting continuous health battles. Within my recent artwork, I have created with abundance, displaying a love that I hope my audiences will engage with to inspire internal healing, both visually and through words. As anxiety builds during these stressful times, one can only hope that healing outlets become more readily accessible for the public, heightening the importance for me to create reflective artwork.

Once I discovered the extraordinary array of supernatural mystics that are in existence with a legitimate business license, I couldn’t help but wonder how these humans are brave enough to advertise science-defying traits, and continuously expect monetary gain from utilizing these gifts. I noticed a difference in the way that people carry themselves in this vibrant city; there is a certain aura that I am drawn to, especially from a person who exudes confidence and self- love. My previous photography series from 2017, Fairfax Royalty, documents my Los Angeles neighborhood, the Fairfax District. The neighborhood, especially along Fairfax Avenue, had transformed from its humbler Jewish roots of delis and bagel bakeries to become the epicenter of the LA hip-hop/ skate-culture scene: an ever-evolving, hyped-up mix of inventive fashion, edgy music and truly beautiful people. These people became the subjects of my study, the Fairfax Royalty. By embedding myself into the trend-setting social scene, I explored concepts of portraiture in an age dominated by social media and its fleeting images.

I am taking a similar approach with this new project by seeking out strangers that exist prominently within the city’s consumerist culture that I can capture in a positive, inspiring way. At first as an artist, I assumed that the storefront aesthetic seen from a street view window would be the most alluring factor for attracting new clientele. But then, I discovered that many psychics only do over the phone readings, and very few, at least during this global pandemic, have been doing readings face-to-face. I soon realized that it takes far more than just a crystal ball and large neon sign to be a successful psychic. I decided to embark on a journey to understand, portray and document what it means to be a psychic; How a psychic first discovered their abilities and what techniques they use to heal people with everyday problems. Additionally, I was curious to find out how a psychic wished to be displayed before a camera, knowing their portrait would land in a public setting. With this photographic series, I am aware that psychics are often portrayed in a negative light, perhaps the business is viewed by some as a gypsy-style trickery for the naive. My portraits will challenge these preconceived notions. Instead, I will convey the beauty and respect that comes from being a modern mystic, attending to their aesthetic qualities as well as the mental capacity needed for a psychic business to operate. I am fascinated by the role psychics play in helping people with everyday problems as both a means of therapy and spiritual guidance.

To initiate the project, I researched the local psychics in West Hollywood, wandering the streets to photograph storefronts and tracking down subjects through “5 star” Yelp reviews, making phone calls and sending emails. Responses to phone calls have been the most productive way of making contact. The psychic business is thriving, and I have had to make a few formal appointments. So far, I have met with 6 people. In total, this project will feature up to 15 subjects, but I am open to interpretation and spontaneity if opportunities continuously present themselves.

My approach to setting up the portraits is first to develop rapport with the psychics and then to convince them to participate in my project. I photograph in a documentary style in constant conversation with my subject. This allows for information to transfer from the subject into the final image and to convey my sincerity and respect. I often allow my subject to be in charge of outfit and location choice to enhance their comfort with the portrait experiences. I have found my initial subjects to be inspiring, and I wish to depict my subjects in ways they can be proud.

In addition to the portraits, my project is capturing the sensory effects of the psychics’ storefront environments – the visual artifacts, scents and lighting. These contrived environments are designed to be enticing and create a sense of curiosity and wonderment. Atmospherically, these symbols and elements associated with esoteric notions of astrology might create a veil of security for the client, enhancing their trust in the psychic. At night, the powerful aesthetics brighten up a dreary street, like a fairy-tale aura glistening at midnight, scattered amongst closed, darkened stores.

After meeting and talking to a small number of well-regarded psychics in my area, I am learning that, whether a psychic actually has real mystical powers or not, the psychic business is adding value to a society engulfed in consumerist culture and anxiety. The modern psychics I have met have made it clear to me that they see their business not merely as predicting the future. Rather, they attempt to understand their clients and provide insights that support healing. The experience of a psychic reading is intended to be positive and motivating, encouraging clients to return. They aim to listen and help soothe out problems and insecurities that are holding their clients back. In a sense, the culture of the psychic business speaks lengths about human psychology, in regard to anxieties and insecurities concerning the future. In an age dominated by social media, it is easy to skew a healthy mentality with obsessive behaviors and reactions to judgement from a public perspective. Looking at psychics through a lens of faith and religion, there have historically been mystics and clairvoyants as prominent figures associated with the belief system, from ancient biblical societies up until the 21st century. Only around the Dark Ages were witches viewed as evil assets to societies, but I believe it was the fear from uncertainties and lack of science that caused civilizations to dismiss and destroy the women who used botany as medical healing remedies.

The portraits will also examine where the psychics get their insights and what it means to be spiritual. The diversity of psychic styles, approaches and backgrounds is apparent in my subjects, and it is interesting to me that so many are women. My initial encounters have shed light on the use of Tarot cards, clairvoyance and conversation to instruct clients in using their internal mental powers and agency, as we are always in control of changing our own life paths. Convincingly, with their whole physical being and spiritual energy, the psychics employ motivational language and encouragement to inform that your career, your life path and search for a soulmate will all work out. Like a therapist, they support a healthy human psyche and personal wellbeing.