portrait with a cigarette (2000)

This video and sound installation presents a portrait of a young girl, though it differs from Edvard Munch's Self Portrait with Cigarette (1895), which it references. A young girl appears on a flat video screen, holding a burning cigarette between her fingers with an air of arrogance. A remote control is visible in the background, within reach of her hand. She defiantly points the remote at the viewer, controlling the viewing experience. Loud bursts of drum 'n base and garage music erupt periodically from speakers behind the audience. The installation captures the restless spirit of its subject, contrasting with the composed nature of traditional portraits. It ends when the cigarette burns out.