WEBBED
n i c o l l e t t e m o l l e t | p h o t o g r a p h e r
“Webbed,” is a photographic story of a young woman born with a rare deformity. Unable to overcome this deep insecurity, she must endure a metamorphosis before she can finally find the beauty within herself.
The story begins with her in the bathtub, gazing at her own reflection as the water flattens to a still mirror. Flies buzz around her, representing the burden of insecurity that lingers above her head. Flashbacks flood her mind as the taunting and teasing of peers from her early childhood echo out names such as “freak show.”
Morning arrives and she wanders down a few blocks to a nearby pond to find peace where she comes across a small frog–who she identifies with. Startling her, the frog leaps back into the water as it begins to rain (symbolizing a change in the story). Lifting up her hands to shield her eyes, a small ray of light divides the gloomy sky, illuminating the skin between her fingers. How this monstrosity, this freakish mutation, has caused her to hide as a turtle does and refrain from her one passion in life in that she would be viewed differently. Her arms descend down to her side and she closes her eyes. Trudging through the water back to the grass, her hands skim the water–envisioning the black and white keys of the piano.
Immediately, she runs home to get dressed (in a purple dress, which symbolizes feelings of nostalgia) and takes a small journey down to the old performing arts center where she grew up. The old door seemed to have aged, desaturated in its green color, now a dark sea-green (representing hope and growth). Facing the one tool that brought her the most peace and happiness, she decides to play. Afraid she may have forgotten everything she knew, she sits down and slowly begins to pick up on memory. She finally reaches an epiphany and realizes she is beautiful despite her deformity. Meanwhile in the corner of the room, the frog eats a fly.
The story is meant to evoke the internal conflict of insecurity and embarrassment. Her webbed fingers symbolize insecurities of all mankind, especially young females in America with the desire to be physically beautiful. What inspired me to create this fictional story was the common debate on whether insecurity of young women is the result of fashion photography in the media. I personally want to express to these young women, including myself, that we all have our imperfections. We must overcome them and instead embrace who we are. What you find unappealing about yourself may be beautiful to another.
Just as the frog represents hidden beauty, we cannot be ashamed of who we have come to be on the surface. Only once we realize this can we truly be beautiful.
Above are just a few samples from the series (5/12 pieces).
My exhibition went swell!
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