Peep show
Peep show
Peep Show came about when I was sitting on the couch journaling one summer morning at our cabin in Maine. I looked up and saw the antique wooden table, the homemade curtains, the amber-honey colored walls all swathed in the beautiful light, and was struck by how idyllic it was. Then for whatever reason, I thought, “What if someone’s head just popped up in the window? That would be kind of creepy.”
Of course I started planning it all in my journal, titling it Peeping Tom and scribbling “Googly glasses, masks, wigs. Color coordinate with surroundings to make it pretty. Different windows, one at night with spotlight illuminating them. Show different times of day.
It’s the opposite of social media. It’s an invasion of privacy on someone else’s terms. We want to share, share, share, but only what we want people to see. Keep details of daily living in to make it real. The peepers are grotesque to emphasize how creepy it is—exaggerate the freakiness.”
Then I remembered that I’d seen a monkey mask in my favorite antique barn in town the summer before. I was drawn to the mask but talked myself out of it, thinking, “What are you going to do with a monkey mask, Nina?” Note to self: Trust. That. Feeling!
I was jazzed with the energy of this idea so I got dressed and headed to the town. I was concerned because I didn’t remember seeing the mask the last two times I’d shopped, but it was still there! Yay. The vendor wanted $25 for it and I thought “That’s a tad expensive for a plastic children’s mask” and negotiated it down to $15.
Once I got home, I googled the company, K&M International. Stick with me, the story is a great one: founded in 1979, K&M was a small family-run toy company whose goal was to connect kids with nature through toys. During the 70’s and 80’s their lightweight, plastic animal face masks became the widespread impulse buy at US zoo souvenir shops and now are highly collectable and sell for decent dollars online.
Lightbulb moment—I can maintain consistency with the series by using only K&M masks. By the next day, I’d bin on/ordered 13 masks.
What is this series about? Is it still about social media? Or is it about turning the tables on humans who are always peering in at the animals at the zoo? Eh, not sure. That would I’m one of those who shoots to figure things out, so I’m trusting the process.
Check back as I add more images. The reason will appear.