THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER

Interview with Aaron Doherty by Martine Heyvaert

How it all began…

What inspired you to create a theme around The Prodigal Daughter?

The Biblical parable of the “Prodigal Son” is said to have the essence of the New testament all in one parable, or if the Bible was lost except for this parable, this parable would contain most of the essence of the Gospels. It has Regret, forgiveness, a long journey of contemplation with the decision to return to the father to be forgiven and welcomed home with love (and a hug). A beautiful parable. However I thought back in 2007 that I would be clever and regender the parable. I hope it does not offend the religious viewer as that is not my intention. I believe in God and I have seen the long journey that many people have been on in their lives. My first image had a subject on a beach where I composed the picture with houses in the distance. So it helps if the viewer knows how to “Read an image”. I then thought “the story can continue.

Is your concept rooted in a personal experience, religious story, or a broader social commentary?

The Concept can be rooted in personal experience. As the author I strayed away and on my journey I was in road traffic accidents, travelled to many countries, met so many lovely people, bit like the character in Paulo Coelho’s book “The Alchemist”. “It teaches us about dreams and destiny, and the reason why we are here”. Maybe I am the character.

How does your interpretation of "The Prodigal Daughter" differ from the more familiar "Prodigal Son" narrative?

The regendering of the story was mine from the earliest time 2006. I explained the idea to a musician friend in a bar. She loved it. I said: “I just need a model”. She said: “Ill do it”. So it began. It was regendered in my mind long before anyone had heard of “Netflix”. The “Prodigal Son” is well known. However by making the character female, I discovered the same themes of regret, angst, pain, and the choice to go back on the journey to return home either for the “Prodigal Son” and the “Prodigal Daughter”

Was there a specific moment or event that sparked this idea for you?

A specific event or time…

When I was reading Photography at university in 2001 we studied the work of a young photographer killed in Mogadishu called Dan Eldon. He may have coined the phrase “The journey is the destination”. So outside of trying to have the buildings, such as an apartment building, a corridor, or a house in the distance representing “Home”. I then tried to make sure I had a path, or a road. Corridor or tunnel, symbolic or the “Journey” that is fundamental to the character and the overall theme.

How did you begin translating this theme into visual storytelling?

I began to translate the theme into visual storytelling because I am fascinated by “Narrative”. I want an image to tell a story. “What’s going on…”? “where’s she going?” How does a photographer capture pain or sadness? I chose to not ,or rarely have a face in the picture. When there was no face, or face hidden in shadow, then perhaps the viewer can relate or imagine what she’s going through.

What mood or emotion are you aiming to evoke through this series?

Certainly Catharsis would be one. The sadness the character might have because of her choices and decisions causes her some pain. I’d like to have this represented where the subject might be staring at a blank wall, faceless and sad. Early images might have more of the darkness and “Noir” in the shots because the character is “broken”. This was how a “Femme Fatale” was lit in early Hollywood. In those “Film Noir” movies the woman in the shadows was “tainted” and “never got away with it,” or led men astray. My story should appear brighter in the second half or appear that the subject walks a little lighter because she has “unburdened herself”. The story might have redemption and forgiveness as its moral.

What does this project mean to you personally?

A pastor who was a photographer saw the image of the “Prodigal Daughter” in the tunnel and asked if he could use it in a presentation he was giving. I’m sure he read the image as that of “Walking into the light”. So I believe there are many “Readings” of the theme. However, I am 60 soon and might have more in common with the father waiting for the “return of the prodigal….” Now that I have travelled many roads and got lost a few times myself.

Are there any modern social issues you’re weaving into this series?

I’ll not name too many. How am I using this for highlighting social issues? That’s a really good question. Contemporary social issues are important to me. I studied “Photojournalism” and “The camera in conflict” in some of my modules at university. Some images out there, or in my many photojournalism books are truly awful images. I can’t even write down what some of these award winning images contain because the images are so truly disturbing. However with my character being a woman, I’m aware of studies that show that the majority of women are coerced into some of their choices and can later have deep regret. So healing from regretted decisions, is available and the long journey to healing may be the “Home” or “Light at the end of the tunnel”.

What do you hope viewers take away from this series?

I hope viewers see the long journey that we are all on. The paths and roads we navigate. Maybe the brighter “spring in the step” of the character near the end compared to the head down and shoulders hunched early in the story shows hope. I think the “Prodigal son” who squandered his money and was working with the pigs in the story had nothing when he chose to go home. I think when you have nothing that can mean “stripped bare” of emotion and the nakedness of the subject can be the vulnerability. When we have nothing left.