Much of my work engages with collaboration and chance operations, both as a principle of creation and as an artistic methodology. Similar to an experiment, I’m interested in setting up a structure and documenting whatever unfolds in front of my camera. I often combine chance and control by collaborating with my subject, who is always aware of the camera contributing to the image-making process. Although I use serial repetition as a formal structure, the unpredictable actions of the subject usually affects the outcome of the work. In giving up control I want to break with the power relationship normally imposed by the camera while introducing a playful way of composing images not solely dictated by my own aesthetics.

Inspired by dancer Trisha Brown and composer John Cage’s anti-narrative strategies, I used unpredictability as an organizing principle to create the images in “Sleepers”. Eight couples of artists-friends, including my husband and me, were photographed over the course of one night’s sleep. Each couple was asked to pick colors of their bed sheets, covers and what to wear. The camera was placed parallel to the bed and hooked to a timer that was set to record body movements every 42 minutes. Although the intervals were constant, in total darkness the participants could not predict when the camera would go off. The resulting color photographs are lined up, side by side, following the order in which they were taken, and then shown as one continuous piece. Although editing was allowed, each set varies from 9 to 13 images according to the length of time each couple slept. The color of the bed sheets emphasizes a sequential flow of gestures that subtly changes from one image to the next. The repetition of a single act, shown in sequential order, results in body-geometries which convey a unique sense of rhythm and motion. Non-intention and chance are celebrated as I was not present to take the pictures and the participants did nothing except sleep.

I often collaborate with artists-friends and members of other communities as a way to bring greater diversity and complexity into my work. Although all the participants in “Sleepers” live in Los Angeles, they represent different gender and ethnic groupings: Kireilyn and Pepe (USA-Mexico/USA), Haruko and Seema (Japan/USA-India/USA), Andy and Blandine (USA-France), Bia and Cam (Brazil/USA-USA), Bill and Nena (USA–Peru/Switzerland), Alvaro and Gustavo (Spain-Brazil), Yoko and Brian (Japan-USA) and Yong Soon and Allan (Korea/USA-UK). By inviting couples of different parts of the world I want to blend notions of ‘here and there’, of ‘local and global’.

“Sleepers” furthers my investigation on the innumerous possibilities that emerge when different people perform a single action. Although these actions may change every time they are performed, they show an inherent sensibility due to the participant's personal history, gender, race and cultural background. In addition, these images challenge traditional notions of portraiture: although the person sleeping is physically present, they are unconscious and not directly in control of their movements. This ‘involuntary choreography’ depicts nightly body movements which are seldom seen.