
Advertisement

Daliah Spiegel: Yes, but I got a "C." When I started studying medicine three years ago, I got an "A" on a test and it continuously got worse until I ended up where I am now: a hateful "C." I only have one exam left, then I'm done.Stop complaining. A "C" is great. I mean, after the test you were afraid you didn't pass at all.
True, I was worried, but that's what I do every time. And once I've passed, then I start complaining about the grade and get angry about not doing better.

Yeah, it's actually a funny story. When you study medicine in Austria, you have to take a big exam every year in July, right before the summer holidays begin. In my first year I took it really seriously, I locked myself away and was studying day and night. But after two months of isolation I couldn't stand it any longer and decided to go out. It had been a while, so I made a serious effort; slapped on a bit of black eye shadow, put on a white dress… you get the picture. But then something went wrong, I don't remember exactly why, but my best friend Jeanne who was supposed to be picking me up was a bit late. For some unknown reason I completely lost it and started balling my eyes out. Black makeup was running all over my face and I looked so incredibly pathetic that I decided to switch my camera on and take a picture.
Advertisement

Nope. The gum is all still there. As a matter of fact the mountain is growing daily. There is even a little white baby brother mountain of white gum next to the colorful one. All the chewing gum is from a vending machine my Mum got me as a present for my last birthday. After a few seconds they get all gross and tasteless and disgusting which is actually kinda good, because I don't get the feeling I'm wasting stuff.

Yes, it's a "kitsch cluster" in my bedroom. I had loads of different ideas for still life, but as you know, there wasn't enough time because I had to study. But I'll get those pictures sometime soon and show them to you. Then you can tell me what you think.

I think the animals came after I decided that doing mere self-portraits is quite boring. So I wanted to get all kinds of stuff into these pictures, animal masks, dead animals, you know, anything to make the whole "self expression" thing a bit more exciting. Anyway, I'm not that into it any more, but I still think animals are cool.
Advertisement
Dressing up has always been a very important part of my pictures. Like Cindy Sherman, using different identities, playing roles, finding out how far you can go, who you can be and stuff. But even that changed. Right now I don't feel like wearing a wig. Maybe I should bring that back again sometime soon.

Yeah, that's true. I sent him the pictures in order to get him to come to Austria to take pictures of me. But he didn't want to. I never heard anything back. Mean. Ultra mean. But maybe me having a different hair color in every picture confused him.daliah-spiegel.comDAVID BOGNER