ABOUT jaz
My work in photography investigates the multifaceted struggles of the female experience through an intersectional lens. I am particularly interested in examining the distinctions between the female and male gaze, specifically regarding the differences between eroticism and pornography. My art practice encompasses a variety of mediums, including digital and film photography, painting, drawing, and sound.
My work often focuses on female subjects, as I aim to highlight the power of their eroticism without falling into the realm of pornography. The global history of female struggles and my personal experiences as a woman from the Southern United States heavily inform my art-making. My process involves conceiving a concept and then allowing my eye to guide me until I discover something that resonates with me. I prefer to work in studio settings with a structured approach to my photography.
I am drawn to creating provocative images of women who take control of their eroticism. Eroticism, to me, represents the artistic expression of sexuality in which women hold agency over their sensuality and bodies. Pornography, on the other hand, is characterized by the association of sexuality with aggression, violence, and male dominance over women. Through my art, I hope to reclaim the male gaze and the male photographer's ability to create pornography and instead use this power to empower feminine eroticism.