Gina Cholick: Inquietude

Gina Cholick: Inquietude by Aline SmithsonOctober 28, 2015

©Gina Cholick

Life is complex and navigating the future in the midst of that complexity leads to sense of weightiness–the weight of expectation, the weight of not knowing what comes next, and the heaviness that comes from navigating the GPS’d world, mapless. Gina Cholick has created a narrative self-portrait series that uses light and time to convey being at a chronic cross roads. She has a limited edition Artist’s Book under the same title: Inquietude.

Gina grew up in the countryside of South Dakota, where, after taking a summer photography class as a teen, she converted her father’s bathroom into a darkroom. Her fascination with photography hasn’t left her and she’s been creating work ever since. Gina currently lives in Los Angeles and works as a commercial and fine art photographer.

Gina has participated in group shows at Los Angeles Center of Photography, The Robert Berman Gallery, Broadway Art Space in Santa Monica and Krowswork Gallery in Oakland. In 2013, she was the Grand Prize winner for Emerging Focus and her work was shown as a part of PhotoLA.

©Gina Cholick

Inquietude

I’m of a generation taught to follow my dreams, which is a beautiful and seemingly liberating concept. For me, life without constraints causes anxiety. I want to be and do everything. Within this infinity of choice, I freeze. Instead of taking action, hours are spent in an internal struggle. I visualize multiple versions of an idealized life. Expectations form, melt and reform. I hold up what I want for my life and weigh it against what others want, to what they have. I question everything and look for perfect answers that never come. There are moments of respite and clarity and moments of darkness. I search for meaning and identity. I want to stay in the magical world where anything is possible, but I know I must face the reality of choice.