I’s Closed, I’s Opened: The Inner Self

I’s Closed, I’s Opened: The Inner Self is a series of head and shoulder photographic diptychs, each one accompanied by a Haiku-like poem. In creating each portrait the subjects are requested to think about their inner life. The first image is with eyes closed, the second image with eyes open. After the photo session the subject wrote down his or her thoughts and feelings. From these, Berghash and his wife Rachel, a poet, composed a Haiku-like poem for each subject. Berghash’s intention in making these portraits is to record aspects of a person’s true inner self.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.