"I started making the Autoportraits series in 1982, working with a 35mm camera and black and white film, in London, where I was studying. They were made using a long cable release: each person taking part was asked to show himself or herself as they wanted, choosing the background and where the camera was positioned, and determining the moment of exposure. I was interested in whether, with this transfer of power, the sitter would alter their mode of self-representation and compose a new mask. The longer the exposure required, the more the subject grew into the picture and the less I was involved."