Today we're here with Todd Ford a well-known modern dancer in Berlin and San Francisco. He has recently embarked on a new career in photografixs. In college he studied performing arts and photography. Presently, he is renewing his photography portfolio and actively learning computer graphics. His new work, The Architecture of the Narcissist, will be shown in Framework in September 2002. This is his debut exhibition.

Question. Hi Todd! Why is it that you decided to work with photography again?
Answer. Well, as we all know, one can only dance for so long and besides that, I like the idea of using all of my talents. Hopefully, as I grow even older, I will find more of my hidden talents.

Question. Okay, what then is photografixs?
Answer. Photografixs is a term I composed to describe my visual work. I start with digital photos and then manipulate them with computer programs such as Photoshop, Coral draw and Freehand. The final product is what I call photografixs.

Question. What is The Architecture of the Narcissist, or better yet, let's start with what is a narcissist?
Answer. The dictionary description of the narcissist is a person who has a grandiose sense of self-importance, who seeks excessive admiration from others and admires his own perfections. No, before you ask, I am not really a narcissist. Well, I think it is very important for a black man to love himself, when we are continually bombarded by the media with images of the pristine, blond, blue-eyed spokes-model. As you probably know, the percentage of African-American men in jail is very high. I must take every chance to celebrate the fact that I am somewhat successful. We, as people of color, must remind ourselves that black is also beautiful. On a personal note, I would say my image of myself is quite healthy, although sometimes it gets a bit fantastical.

Question. Why is your collection called The `Architecture´ of the Narcissist? What does architecture have to do with it?
Answer. In this context, architecture has many levels of meaning. The most literal meaning is the building blocks, the parts of the narcissist. The architecture of the narcissist is the physical parts: legs, arms, head, lips, etc. and then ,of course, the emotional, spiritual and mental aspects that help create the narcissist. In this collection I used my body parts as subject matter; these are the parts that build the narcissist. On another level, my work also deals with architectural concepts such as spatial limitations, aesthetics, light, symmetry, landscapes, flowers, and the building of something beautiful. (Todd laughs)

Question. Isn't it true that the only reason you took pictures of yourself is because you had no model?
Answer. (Todd laughs again even louder) Where did you hear that?! That is only a rumor.

Question. So back to the narcissist, what is in the exhibit?
Answer. The exhibit has three parts. There is a dance video; photografixs exhibited, and I will give live performances. All of the work was self-made. I made the video of myself, the photos of myself and I will be dancing for myself. (Todd laughs) Correction. I will be dancing myself. I must say the gallery is a little small so I decided to do the `store front performance method´. That means we will build a small stage inside, next to the very large window so that the audience can watch the performance from outside. Another important note is that the photografixs will be shown in three phases. The first phase is called Reaching to Myself, which includes pictures with my reflected mirror image. The second phase is called Transformed into a Tulip. This section includes pictures of lush body parts. The third phase is called Life as a Flower and includes pictures dealing with landscapes, soil, moisture, and sunlight.

Question. As I look here I see your photografixs have some strange poetic names like his mouth dreaming and so vainly catching. How did you come about these names?
Answer. The names of my pieces are words and phrases taken from the original Greek poem Echo and Narcissisus by P. Ovidius Naso. The names are, of course, from the English translations. This is a story about a beautiful young man who falls in love with the reflected image of himself and then is transformed into a flower.

Question. So the last question is, when and where will this event happen?
Answer. The event will happen at Framework a new intimate gallery and cafe in Kreuzberg Schlesischestr.28. The vernissage will be August 30 at 20.00 and the exhibit will run for four weeks. The free dance performances will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 20.30. Check out the Web site framework-berlin.de

Interview by Todd Ford
Mr. Ford is a free-lance art contributor to HIS magazine.