Last night I worked the brand, spanking, new opening of the Photographers' gallery which is now situated in Oxford Circus. Showing in the main gallery were large format pictures of people living on the west coast of America by Katy Grannan. One of the subjects of her photographs were transexual duo Gail and Dale. the images are often striking and have an awkward beauty to them but are often uncomfortable- reflecting the subjects posed discomfort and nudity.
The most striking images were of one of her subjects; Nicole. In most of the photos she seems either distressed or poses a state of hysteria. In one photo she's wearing a bleached-blonde wig, crouched on a hotel bed, snarling ferally at the camera. the images seem to suggest abuse - addict, drifter, along with a growing belly.
However, the way they are shot elicits a romantic sense to the images and the most powerful image of nicole, with a expressionless face holding a baby. The only thing we learn about nicole is her name and where the images were taken.
Grannans' photos are both shocking, powerful and romantic. Her work seems to evoke the struggle for the 'photographic truth' and make us think more about the subject than the printed image.
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