©Joe Ziolkowski

Artist Statement
At times the journey through life is one of total control and pleasure, in other instances it is a constant battle to maintain under a chaotic situation. For over 20 years, a large concentration of my photographs mirror my life and experiences with the intended to transcend you, the viewer, to your own personal drama.

With these photographs, the viewer is presented with staged scenes, including memorabilia from my own history. These little stories play off the ambiguous nature of fiction and biography (truth, history, reality). The examination of these staged dramas opens dialogue on what creates an individual, at present and in the future.

At the heart of these portfolio's is an attempt to interpret, define and redefine the sexual codes of men in our society at large. Through these images I encourage the viewer to explore their own sexual parameters and to interpret and redefine these boundaries we are conditioned to follow from birth.

Much of my work is done in series exploring specific issues within the aforementioned parameters. The Numbered Series deals with the emotions experienced while waiting for the H.I.V. test results. This work was begun in response to a 1988 Illinois law requiring testing in order to obtain a marriage license. Numbers were assigned to those tested to keep their identity anonymous. The sense of floating and lack of control were frequent responses to the experience. Although this Illinois law was repealed after only one year,this series is ongoing and will continue until a cure for A.I.D.S. is found.

Seventy nine photographs from the series Walking the Line have been published in book format. This series is intended to directly address the issues of A.I.D.S. and its restrictions. At times, these photographs are reminders of people living in a culture that declares "All men are created equal" yet continues to exile a minority based on lifestyle. At other times, these images deal with the restrictions placed on relationships that must be maintained under oppression in order to continue a healthy existence.

I have embodied these issues of interpretation and examination of the relationships men have with men, and how society reacts to those dynamics in my work for more than 20 years. The political and cultural climate have been resistant, and at times challenging, but I will not relinquish the importance of diffusing the ignorance people have towards these topics.