Inspiration: Lorna Simpson
Lorna Simpson: photographer, videographer, conceptual artist. You can visit her, here. I first saw her artwork while wandering through the MCA in Chicago after a class trip, maybe a year ago. As my first real, in-person introduction to a contemporary black artist’s artwork, she got my attention.
I love the way she plays with words, images, and their association to one another. Simpson uses several, near-identical photographs in the same piece, sometimes showing subtle differences in the model's posture. I find the photos themselves are ambiguous, presenting the black female body in segments and never revealing her face. It's a basic impression of the character. But, it's the text that makes the meat of the story, providing the context of what we should be thinking about-- issues that black women have faced.
On that very personal note, her art reminds me that I am a black woman who often takes photographs of black women. I don’t know if I’ll ever shake that association and right now, I don’t want to. From my perspective, I see other creatives who are women of color being present, showing their faces and those of their friends in a new light, and I’m inspired to do the same.
On Google later that night, I immediately took to her framed photographs and text plaques from the 80s. Black and white, combining words and pictures, I thought of documentary photography and news stories. They were old, maybe not-so-fictional memories that alluded to social tensions still present today.
It’s a reminder that there are pressing issues and themes that I have access to. Taking a page from Lorna, I can learn to apply my history, shared with her and many others, as she has: by telling non/fictional stories related to the threats of discrimination against my race and sex.
The test is finding the balance between an aimless idea and being more intentional with the subjects I choose and how I portray them.
So thanks, Lorna, you’ve given me a lot to think about.
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