I wanted to create something that people could relate to without having read a book about it beforehand.
Cindy ShermanIn horror stories or in fairy tales, the fascination with the morbid is also, at least for me, a way to prepare for the unthinkableโฆ Thatโs why itโs very important for me to show the artificiality of it all, because the real horrors of the world are unmatchable, and theyโre too profound. Itโs much easier to absorb โ to be entertained by it, but also to let it affect you psychologically โ if itโs done in a fake, humorous, artificial way.
Cindy ShermanOne reason I was interested in photography was to get away from the preciousness of the art object.
Cindy ShermanI think I always resented the fact that people thought I was trying to entertain them with my multifaceted, chameleonlike character changes. Although I liked doing that, I wasn't out to fool people and say 'Guess which one is me.'
Cindy ShermanSo many things suddenly made sense for the clowns, for the whole idea. Iโd been going through a struggle, particularly after 9/11; I couldnโt figure out what I wanted to say. I still wanted the work to be the same kind of mixture โ intense, with a nasty side or an ugly side, but also with a real pathos about the characters โ and clowns have an underlying sense of sadness while theyโre trying to cheer people up. Clowns are sad, but theyโre also psychotically, hysterically happy.
Cindy Sherman