How large is the gulf between who you are and who others presume you are? Photographer Nicole Buchanan goes a long way to bridging that gap in her lustrous, elegant series “In the Skin I’m In”, which addresses the regrettable human impulse to cast racial stereotypes. Her solo exhibit at Gallery Kayafas in Boston’s South End is shown in conjunction with “Victorious Secrets”, Tehran-born artist Azita Moradkhani’s mixed media exhibit exploring the politically fraught dynamics of sexuality in Iran. Although I’m focusing on Buchanan’s photography here, together these shows put identity into enlightening personal, racial and cultural contexts. The exhibits will be on view through July 2, 2016.
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
Buchanan’s photographs are velvet gloves, hitting you first with their sheer beauty, then with the unambiguous revelation that, stripped down, we are all just human. Life-sized, individual color photographs line the gallery walls at eye level, giving the convincing impression that you’re standing in a roomful of people. All the images are square, all the subjects are pictured frontally from their bare shoulders up, with neutral expressions against a black backdrop. Such uniform portrayals are a visually compelling argument for our collective humanity.
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
Paradoxically, it is that same uniformity of presentation that allows us to realize the resounding individuality of Buchanan’s subjects. Her soft directional lighting gently models the face of each young adult – all schoolmates of the former RISD student – who self-identify as “African, African American and from the African Diaspora”. Her opulent prints, in combination with a frameless display, draw attention to the rich tonal variety of skin coloration, emphasizing its luscious, textural intimacy.
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
The expressions borne by Buchanan’s subjects are deliberately impartial, hindering the tendency of viewers to assign prejudices and assumptions. This invites close inspection, whereupon sparks of personality, little discoveries of self, are revealed to us. In her engaging, graceful portraits, Buchanan validates the fundamental dignity of her subjects and allows us to recognize ourselves in them, forging a path toward the obliteration of stereotyping, one person at a time.
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
For hours, directions and more information about Buchanan and Moradkhani’s solo shows at Gallery Kayafas, go to: http://www.gallerykayafas.com/
Feature Image: From the series “The Skin I’m In” (Detail) by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
From the series “The Skin I’m In” by Nicole Buchanan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
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