Gorky and the son he never had

For the series of images Akh Gorky, the artist borrowed the faces from Arshile Gorky’s famous painting The Artist and His Mother (ca. 1926 - 1936) to create masks that are worn by friends, family, and by himself. By wearing the masks, the subjects connect themselves to Gorky vis-à-vis his legendary covering of identity, history, and truth. The masks operate as a separation device and defense mechanism, but also as a point of connection as many viewers are familiar with the poignancy of their haunting gazes.