Substance
Photo series, 2003
Dimensions variable

The photos are extreme close-ups of ecstasy tablets. There are five in all. Each is emblazoned with a word or symbol. Substance renders a much-discussed but seldom seen phenomenon visible. Ecstasy has its own lore and mythology, that of love, bliss, empathic connection, spiritual enlightenment and a heightened sense of well-being. The dark side of drug use is also well known: criminal arrest, dependency, addiction, mental illness and death. By presenting large-scale images of the drug, the tiny tablets become monumentalized, representing both the exaggerated presence that drugs can have in the lives of users and also amplifying the aura that accompanies these minuscule, indifferent objects.