Femme Fatale — Behind the Scenes of Christy Flaherty’s Upcoming Photo Exhibition

FEMME FATALE — Digital & Analog Works by Christy Flaherty
Field Botanicals in Augusta, GA • November 1 • 6PM

“First, she turns you on. Then, she turns on you.”

Although this archetype in literature and art seems like a step backward in its objectification of women, its reemergence in modern cinema disrupted gender norms by providing women the space to exist beyond the typical bounds of womanhood. A woman could be sexual, she could be a villain — she could be flawed.

The ‘femme fatale’ shirks conventional morality and dismisses motherhood and wifehood as her natural role. She rejects the notion that women are innately good or nurturing. She subverts femininity to exploit it. She is unapologetic, independent, self confident, and unyielding.

“Men aren't forced to cleave themselves in two, to choose one kind of power or the other. James Bond is a male femme
fatale who leaves women in his wake, but there's never any question that he's accomplished and excellent at his job. The
truly feminist notion, I now think, is to use every advantage you've got. A man would.” — Amanda Fortini

Christy Flaherty (aka XINELAINE) has appreciated the feminine form through her camera lens for years. Self taught, her journey began with self portraiture as a means of exploration and empowerment. Her ongoing cinematic series, FEMME FATALE, celebrates women — their mystery, their nuanced sexuality, and the power that they hold. Through digital and analog imagery, Christy examines the boundaries that exist for women and works to break them down.

We had the chance to sit down with Christy a few days before the opening of her exhibition, discussing the different aspects and nuances of her work, and what she’s bringing together and hoping to express with the gallery.

Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up, and your childhood? How did photography develop into such a passion?

I'm a self-taught photographer born and living in Augusta, Georgia. As a child, I was exposed to lots of great films and books. Reading Stephen King and watching Wes Craven movies specifically made me want to create my own stories. So I would write my own little short horror scripts, whip up some fake blood, and direct my younger sister and friends in acting out these roles. I’ve always loved developing characters and seeing them come to life, and I think that experience has just evolved and matured into a more artistic outlet for me as an adult.

Your work is a mixture of digital and analogue — why do you go back and forth between the two, and what do you find each offers over the other?

Growing up, I had a huge VHS camcorder permanently attached to my shoulder — recording music videos or making campy horror movies. I also remember taking disposable cameras on all of our family vacations. Recently I've started incorporating VHS and 35mm back into my shoots as a kind of nostalgic element. I just love the texture and grain of film and the way it captures lights. Plus there’s really nothing like the anticipation of waiting to get those scans back — I’m still new and learning, so it’s so rewarding when you get a good one!

‘Femme fatale’ is a theme you’ve been focusing on for many months now, I believe. Can you dive into it for us? What exactly does it mean to you?

I decided to use the ‘femme fatale’ trope as the title of my exhibition because it really encapsulates what I’m trying to capture in my work — something cinematic and dangerous. When it reemerged in cinema, this archetype disrupted gender norms by providing women the space to exist beyond the typical bounds of womanhood. A woman could be sexual, she could be a villain, she could be flawed. The ‘femme fatale’ shirks conventional morality and dismisses motherhood and wifehood as her natural role. She rejects the notion that women are innately good or nurturing. She subverts femininity to exploit it.

“A woman could be sexual, she could be a villain, she could be flawed.”

Your upcoming exhibition, Femme Fatale, is Nov. 1. Can you tell us a bit about it? How long in the making has it been?

Femme Fatale will be a large collection of the work I’ve created over the past few years — digital and analog prints, VHS video work, and a soundtrack of songs from movies that I love. It’s going to be a fun night!

What drew you to explore femininity in your work, and what keeps you coming back to the concept?

Since I grew up making movies with my girl friends, I think I’ve just always been more comfortable and inspired by women. Creating self portraits throughout the years also helped me explore my own femininity. I’m constantly drawn to the lines that exist for women between femininity and sexuality, and exploring where those lines get blurry.

How do you go about capturing the duality of women — the femininity, the power and sexuality, and the intertwining of the two?

There’s still a lot of shame around women embracing their power and sexuality. And on the reverse, there’s even some women who shame other women for encouraging traditional femininity. While we’re taught femininity and female sexuality are kind of exclusive from each other, I think the two can mutually exist. Women can be both of these things at once. I think it’s interesting to explore this concept in my work.

Lighting (often quite vivid and fantasy-like) and mood play a huge part in your photography of women. Why do you incorporate those elements so often?

My portraits range from naturally-lit and candid to bold with neon lighting. But my style of approach is always very intimate and cinematic. I like to create imagery that feels like it could be a frame from your favorite film.

“I like to create imagery that feels like it could be a frame from your favorite film.”

Femme Fatale has been described as a ‘cinematic’ series, and your work often feels reminiscent of cinematic stills. Do you find much inspiration in film?

That’s my ultimate goal — for my work to resemble film. I even develop a lot of my concepts while listening to my favorite soundtracks. I’m especially inspired by films by Sophia Coppola, Nicola Winding Refn, David Fincher, Baz Luhrman, and Christopher Nolan.

Where do you see your work evolving from here?

This past year I’ve had my work featured in some of my favorite publications. Photography allowed me to travel, and by the end of 2019 I’ll have had my first solo exhibition. So I really just hope to focus on pushing myself creatively, having fun, and making work that I’m proud of.