Photographer of the week: Taryn Simon
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Copyright Taryn Simon
ROY CRINER Alibi location, Houston, Texas, Wrongfully accused- Served
10 years of a 99-year sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault, 2002
Figured I would start a "Photographer of the week" section. Please feel free to add to it as we go. I have an "Artist of the week" on my blog. It keeps me better in touch with whats going on in the world of art and photography.
Taryn Simon currently has a show at the Whitney in NY titled "Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar". These photos are amazing! Taryn Simon may be one of the greatest American Photographers working and showing right now, or the luckiest (it's a fine line). Her last series, which hit the photo-art world by storm a few years ago is titled "The Innocents". She photographed a number of people who were wrongly convicted of a crime and later released by DNA evidence, many of them were on death row. The photos were taken at the supposed scene of the crime or where they were arrested. (above image)
"Photography’s ability to blur truth and fiction is one of its most compelling qualities. But when misused as part of a prosecutor’s arsenal, this ambiguity can have severe, even lethal consequences. Photographs in the criminal justice system, and elsewhere, can turn fiction into fact. As I got to know the men and women that I photographed, I saw that photography’s ambiguity, beautiful in one context, can be devastating in another." -Taryn Simon"Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar" documents the places that you an I most likely would never be able to see. There is a great interview with her on Charlie Rose here. Below are a few images from this series.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Contraband Room Kennedy International Airport, Queens, N.Y
Marijuana Research Grow Room National Center for Natural Products Research Oxford, Miss
Hymenoplasty Cosmetic Surgery, Professional Association, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
This woman's hymen was reconstructed.
Hibernating Black Bear and Cubs, Bear Den, Monongahela National Forest, W. Va.
Labels: Timothy Briner
posted by Timothy Briner @ 9:34 AM,
5 Comments:
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At March 28, 2007 3:20 PM,
Wayne Wallace said...
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Tim,
Thanks for sharing. Always some interesting stuff from you that is opening my eyes to areas I've not yet explored in the world of photography.
Keep it coming! -
At March 29, 2007 7:50 PM,
fayedugan said...
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Oh the hymen reconstruction. I can't understand that. Blow thousands of dollars on something that will last once. I guess women are saying "I wished I saved my virginity for my husband, and this is a way that I can." BS!!! Get outta here! It still still doesn't make you a virgin, silly. (Not like your husband saved his v-card for you anyway.)
Silly silly people. -
At March 30, 2007 12:44 PM,
Tim said...
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fayedugan,
I have no opinion when it comes to having a Hyman reconstructed, I don't have one.
I like your reaction though. Surely that is what this series is about. "the hidden and unfamiliar" -
At March 31, 2007 1:15 PM,
Krisandra said...
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...i just simply love it. who would have thought! great great uh pfft hmm just GREAT.
xxoo -
At April 3, 2007 9:56 PM,
raychel deppe said...
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nice faye. great point dripping with sarcasm. love it.
taryn,
i really like your compositions. especially the lines in the hymen reconstruction one. the lights mimic the angle of the legs beautifully.
