Jason Driskill
Artist Statement
Self-reflection is the driving force of my work. This body of work is particularly inspired by the tender, painful, and dichotomous transformation that I undertook years ago as a Christian missionary, when I replaced my religious naiveté with a devastating acknowledgement of an unwelcome and shameful sexual orientation. Although I have long since come to terms with my sexuality, I still feel compelled to make sense of the shift that took place in my self-perception, and the part of me that remains trapped between the religious and the sexual.
These images consist of self-portraiture, mechanical schematics, instructional diagrams, Internet porn and religious iconography. In collaging these elements together new relationships are formed, giving these symbols new meaning.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Jason Driskill graduated with a BFA from Watkins College of Art and Design in 2004. He uses digital photography and video to indulge his interests in the male body, gender identity and sexualized objectification of masculine power. Jason currently makes art as an MFA candidate at the San Francisco Art Institute.