Wallace Istre, Angola, Louisiana 19 - 1999

Deborah Luster captured Wallace Istre in Louisiana with a tintype, an early photographic process imbuing the image with a ghostly quality. The tattoos, "Bad Cat" and another indecipherable form, are the key to this portrait, acting as personal glyphs etched onto the skin. These tattoos are reminiscent of ancient cultures, where symbols marked individuals, narrating stories of identity, allegiance, and life experiences. Consider the "Bad Cat." We might trace this motif back through folk tales and heraldry, where animals embody human traits. From the protective lion to the cunning fox, animals possess symbolic weight. The cat, often associated with independence and mystery, here takes on a darker edge. This mirrors the symbolic journey of animals through art, evolving to reflect changing human perceptions. These symbols resonate as an individual's attempt to inscribe meaning upon themselves. In this way, Luster’s portrait unveils the profound human need to articulate identity.