Which photographer or artist do you most admire?
Recently I have been floored by Marina Abromovic.
I spent forty hours at MOMA during the last two days of her exhibition. I couldn't leave. I slept outside to get to sit across from her. Through "The Artist is Present" as well as through all of her retrospective re-performances upstairs, Marina gave me my first opportunity to experience and study all the concepts that continually fascinate me about humanity, but distilled and then magnified into living art objects. Marina is a living Rorschach image, and I have my first art crush, since falling in love with Sally Mann when I was 14. After her piece was over, I found myself fawning over her, like a teenager at a rock concert. She has moved me as no other artist ever has.
What artwork, where money is no object, would you like to hang on your wall?
I love those Robert Longo photographs of the men in suits dancing, caught mid-action. They are suspended in space, and they look both elated and orgasmic, while also looking pained and uncontained. I've Xeroxed several of them and put them in frames. I'd love to have the originals!
What is the worst commission you have ever had?
The worst commission I ever had was when I was hired by the NY Post to hide in a lesbian bar and photograph their reporter pretending to be gay, by flirting with and picking up a woman solely for the purpose of the story. My job was to hide behind a plant and shoot undercover pictures of the flirtation. I only became aware of the assignment's content upon arriving at the location. Yuck - I quit my job with The Post that night.
What is the best commission you have ever had?
One of my favourite editorial assignments was for Surface Magazine when I photographed a Yves Saint Laurent fashion story with alien looking models and nude seniors in combination.
When are you at your happiest?
I'm my happiest when I am close to boiling point with work, creative ideas, and obligations, but not when touching boiling point or over.
What is your most treasured possession?
My boxes of photos and drawers of saved papers and scraps.
Also, important to me is my collection of animal figurines in all species and sizes, as well as my "My Little Pony" collection above the kitchen sink.
What made you laugh recently?
That I noticed moments ago how my sister included "play with cats" as one of the line-items on her list of to-dos.
What really winds you up?
Connecting and energizing people together winds me up for sure.
I just found out I'm a triple Aquarius yesterday. I guess this explains it.
Also, singing in richly dense vocal harmonies makes me crazy in the best possible way.
What would your dream project be?
How about my dream LIFE!? Right now, what I imagine is a life in which I travel internationally with my husband - (still yet to be found! :) - and my production team, taking my Tableau Vivant project from one city to the next, meeting new musicians and models along the way with whom I collaborate on still photo shoots, Tableau Vivant performances, and life experiences.
What do you do when not working?
I guess I'm kinda always working. But I'm working on changing that too so there is a little more balance between my work life and social life.
I spend a lot of time singing and arranging music with my Bulgarian a Cappella vocal quartet, Black Sea Hotel: http://www.myspace.com/blackseahotel
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Luckily, when I'm not feeling inspired by photography, I am usually feeling inspired by music, and vice versa. When I'm not feeling inspired by either of these mediums, I normally spend time opening new doors by talking to a lot of people.
How you would you like to be remembered?
As someone expansive, risk-taking, exciting to be around, energetic, provocative, difficult, as well as a generous, loving mother, friend, daughter, wife, and sister.
What music would you like played at your funeral?
Umm... is this something I should have thought about?
Let's see... "Les Mystere De Voix Bulgares" would be fantastic, and then some comedy afterwards.
