Stephanie Sinclair was selected for the 2010 Whitney Biennial for her work, "Self-Immolation in Afghanistan: A Cry for Help." <- Click to view all images.
Sinclair got her start in photojournalism while covering Iraq for the Chicago Tribune. She's lived in Iraq and Lebanon, and has documented sensitive gender issues, like the practice of self-immolation in Afghanistan. This form of suicide has a direct link to domestic violence and sexual abuse (one women she photographed claimed that she set herself on fire because she was afraid what her husband would do when he found out that she had broken the TV), and much of her work relates to these issues.
I'm especially interested in photojournalism and I think it's interesting that work like this would be included in a show like the Whitney. I'm looking forward to seeing what other photography is included in the show.
These photos are so haunting, I can't remember the last time I was so emotionally disturbed by a photograph. I think this series is a great example of how photojournalism, while recording actual events, still encompasses thorough thought and an artistic vision. The way Sinclair set up her shots and her decision of what to shoot further stresses the grim reality of these events
ReplyDeleteI went to the Whitney on Saturday and saw this in person. I wanted to cry when I first saw them. They're really powerful and beautiful at the same time.
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