Niamh Batty
Photography
The Performance Of Persona
A Sociological Phenomenon
Niamh-Elizabeth Batty is an Irish videography/photography based visual artist, centred in Limerick City. Having a fascination with the psychology of anthropology and sociology, her work explores a personal frustration surrounding performative behaviours within social dynamics. Studying the theoretical work within the spheres of sociology and psychology combined with the informative research of historian/author Noah Yuval Harari, Niamh creates an articulation of the literary phenomenon known as “Persona Performance” by using the translatable language of artistic expression.
My current work explores the decision of performance throughout our day, unconsciously and consciously. Using the word performance to describe the different persona in which individuals enact in order to ease their experience or for personal gain during mundane interactions. Dissecting the contrast between decision and impulse to interact in a certain way. I have a fascination with the ability and inability to summon these personas on hand. My work dissects human behaviour and interaction within social situations as well as alone. My main focus within our current situation is perception of self. Taking direction from Erving Goffman, my work investigates the dramaturgical perspective in order to offer an understanding of human interaction within any given circumstance. I work primarily with digital photography and image/video as well as sound manipulation programs such as photoshop and premiere pro.
