Eileen Cowin
[Photographer, b. 1947, Brooklyn, New York, lives in Santa Monica, California.]

 The photograph as metaphor suggests many possible readings, blending memory, fantasy, and desire. As in film, the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred. 
 I think all art has a hidden agenda. In one sense, it’s about learning a new language, deciphering how someone manipulates the images they use. But in my best pieces, even after I’ve finished, there’s still an enigma that I can’t explain. 
 I begin with a drawing, then devise the wardrobe, color scheme, lighting and I come up with the perfect gesture. Everything is mapped out.