I decide it is high time I dusted my dressing table.

Everything is covered with a thick layer of dust, not a good look for a dressing table consisting mostly of mirrored surfaces.

I take off all the perfume bottles and other accumulated objects and put them on a tray ready for dusting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I photograph them and the glass shelf they have been taken from, which is reflected in the main full-length mirror.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am reminded of my idea of reflecting on why it is that French words are romantic in themselves and photograph the large bottles, saved from my Mum’s dressing table, when we cleared her house: ‘bien-être’, ‘Femme’, ‘jardins de bagatelle’, ‘AMAZONE’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am astonished to notice my foot in the photograph, something I hadn’t planned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rephotograph the perfume bottles with more of myself in the mirror, being careful to pose in such a way as not to allow any compromising details (!) into the image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember photographing perfume bottle tops when I was on art foundation back in 1990. I am astonished to find that I can reach behind me onto a low shelf to retrieve a ring binder containing photographs of these experiments from all those years earlier. I am more organised than I am prepared to admit to myself. I remember quite clearly not knowing why I was taking photos of perfume bottle tops back in 1990. Quite often on this project I get the feeling that everything in my life has been leading to this point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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