Glitch IRL takes inspiration from the fingerprints that are visible on the computer screen in one of the original photographs—a hint at a physical, human presence in an otherwise abstract photograph that I purposely framed to be void of any representational signifiers. What was once understood to be a flaw in the photograph is now understood to be an important factor in interpreting the image. The screen glitch was photo-captured purely for its formal qualities: color, line, and composition (It was a beautiful failure of technology.). Yet, despite my best efforts, the presence of the human body is still evident in the image. The fingerprints serve as a reminder (a reassurance, even) that the digital world is inevitably and intrinsically linked to the physical world.

Glitch IRL presents multiple modes through which the human body can interact with the glitches through physical touch, movement, and/or other sensual receptors. The series was also spurred by the resemblance of the glitches to traditional Latin American textiles, particularly those of ancient Guatemalan weaving traditions. As I sought to push this relationship between digital and physical into a relationship between image and object, I asked what it would mean to translate them through different materials and mediums, as well as different cultural traditions and storytelling rituals.