Sarah with Whip

Most of my friends seem to want a detailed explanation of this one. Basically it's a fashion shot - and fashion, like art, is whatever you can get away with. From the beginning of 1990, until it closed down at the end of 1994, I had a permanent exhibition in a wonderful little jewellery shop called "Bijou". At the time I was banned from all government-subsidised galleries (I still am) and the commercial galleries in Hobart wouldn't touch photography at all. But purveyor of fine jewellery and fashion, Marcella Perovic, broke the boycott. She would loan me her stock for props and I would put the resulting photos in her shop. This was her favorite image and I dedicate it to her.

As for the model, Sarah, she insists the whip is a family heirloom. The tattoo on her hip is real too. She was playing bass in her own grunge band at the time so I guess that explains everything.