Interviews

PhotoVogue Festival Echoes: #14 Interview with Hayley Lohn

The Canadian photographer investigates our multidimensional identity and shares with us her future projects.
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We created PhotoVogue Festival Echoes to allow those who participated in the event to contribute their voices to the Festival s narrative. During those days in Milan, we recognised our community s desire to come together and draw inspiration from each other s works. We highly value the sharing of experiences and practices, firmly believing that providing dedicated space to each artist can appropriately acknowledge the outstanding projects exhibited in November at the PhotoVogue Festival.

The 14th episode of PhotoVogue Festival Echoes is dedicated to Hayley Lohn who took part in the exhibition ‘What is Beauty?’ at the PhotoVogue Festival 2023. ‘Digital Skins’ is a series of diptychs with two portray of an individual: one is a classic photographic portrait, and the other is a combination of images representing their digital identity, created with an algorithm that analyzed and organized their social media images in a grid, like a skin. Lohn s work juxtaposes two identities that we often see as separate while they are interconnected and co-dependent. ‘Digital Skins’ is a project dedicated to Millennials and Gen Z, two generations that have always known the internet and are used to the multidimensionality of their own identity. The digital and physical worlds have many points of contact, and their perimeters have become more and more indistinguishable through time and technological advancement. Lohn investigates the impact of technology on the sense of the self, shedding light on our identities beyond the material world.

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Ira: "Ira was the first person to join Digital Skins, and we shared this apartment together in New York City, USA, in 2021.”

What is your favorite memory of the PhotoVogue Festival 2023?
Some of my favourite memories included connecting with artists from around the world and talking about their projects. The collective sense of community, especially during the talks and after-parties we enjoyed together, created so much fun and inspiration.

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Val: “She cherishes her data portrait, seeing it as reminis- cent of fire. She believes her data portrait captures her state of mind at that specific moment. Taken in New York City, USA, in 2021.”

How was this project born?
My project, "Digital Skins," was created in 2021 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time I was spending much of my life on the computer and wanted to explore how technology was psychologically affecting people. I wanted to express the concept of humans having both a physical, real-life version of themselves and a digital version of themselves that lives on servers and across the internet.

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Apollo: “Apollo and I connected online. We crossed paths shortly after his move to New York, through a Facebook group. Captured in New York City, USA, in 2021.”

We always talk about the dangers of having a digital identity. But, in your opinion, what are the positive, unexpected outcomes of having a multidimensional identity?
Having a multidimensional identity can empower people to freely express themselves and connect with like-minded individuals. It offers a platform to explore hidden aspects of their identity and transcend physical limitations.

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Oliv: “Oliv senses that her portrait encapsulates a trans- formative phase in her life. We initially connected through Instagram. Photo taken in Brooklyn, USA, in 2021.”

Is there an upcoming project you are working on?
After spending so much time working with technology, I have been drawn to shooting in nature and being away from screens. I also have some multimedia work with political themes that will be shown at the Griffin Museum in Boston this September.

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Amir: “Battling a history of bipolar disorder, Amir views his data portrait as a reflection of past mental states that no longer resonate with him. He perceives his online data as unchangeable, in contrast to his evolving real-life self. By curating and editing his past social media posts, he aims to align his online identity with his current stable self. Cap- tured in Vancouver, Canada, in 2021.”

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Peter: “He perceives that people often judge others based on their online presentations. Working as a mechanic and waiter, he encounters clients requesting his social media handles. Peter has observed that this can trigger either heightened interest or a distinct change in behavior when they meet in person. Taken in Vancouver, Canada, in 2021.”