Me as a Ghost, 2015

Gillian Wearing RA (b. 1963)

RA Collection: Art

Gillian Wearing has explored her self-image in myriad ways, often experimenting with costumes and disguises. This is from a series entitled ‘Me as…’ that highlights the tension between the self and self-presentation.

In this image of herself as a ghost, Wearing appears to float in a cloud of green and blue smoke. The theme addresses mortality and the extent to which immortality can be achieved through portraiture. The smoke alludes to the industrial heritage of her birthplace, Birmingham, while the slogan on her T-shirt ‘Heavy Metal’ refers to the many heavy metal bands that have come from the city.

This photograph featured in the NPG exhibition Gillian Wearing and Claude Cahun: Behind the Mask in 2017.