by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Jerome Abramovich

Age: 27

Occupation: Photographer/performance artist

Bio: This enigmatic self-described "freak" and gifted McGill ghetto resident has been documenting his existence through photography since he was 19 years old. Dropping out of a series of photography schools, ("I determined I didn't need to go to school just to learn how to take pictures") and recognizing that his death metal band would probably never lead him to the big time, Jerome decided to focus his considerable photography skills simply on "what I felt was shocking." These days, he runs Chapter 9 Photography (www.chapter9photography.com), is forever looking for "cool-looking models who are uninhibited," and is possibly bigger than Jesus in body modification circles, where he is renowned and celebrated for having decided to chop off his finger one day, and, no less impressive, for regularly injecting a saline solution into his forehead, a way-cool parlour trick which has the effect of making Jerome look not entirely unlike a vaguely retarded creature from outer space.

What inspires a man to radically expand the size of his forehead with a saline injection? "I initially thought about doing it so I could go into work and say, ‘Look, something is really wrong with me, I think I better go see a doctor,' and get the day off. So I injected myself, got this big beluga forehead and started telling people I was a brainiac and could read their thoughts. People found it very disturbing. They didn't know if it was a birth defect or if I was retarded or what. But it was really, really funny - especially when I'd start talking like I was retarded."

The art statement behind this particular endeavour: "It's fucking hilarious."

Is it safe to assume expanding your forehead three-fold might hurt a little? " Fuck yeah! I get the worst migraines."

Two quality U.S television shows who've had Jerome on to do his forehead trick: Ripley's Believe It or Not and the Ricki Lake Show.

One Guinness Book of World Records record he held for awhile: That of human pin cushion - where he inserted over 200 pins into his body.

Has he ever considered that he perhaps may not be quite as evolved as the rest of humanity in light of his ability to withstand pain? "Hey, it's all mind over matter. If you don't mind it doesn't matter."

Why Jerome decided to chop off his finger: Personal curiosity.

Does he keep it in a jar on his coffee table as a conversation starter? "No, it's mummified now. I left it in the freezer for a while but it kind of got freezer burn. I boiled it but nothing happened. It just seized up on itself 'cuz it was so burned. So I just chucked it into some salt and put it back in the freezer. It's kind of like beef jerky now."

Musical preferences: Electronica, drum & bass.

Last book read: The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff.

Words of wisdom: "We all need the same thing: love."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca