Artist Laurie Simmons will be showing “How We See” an upcoming photographic exhibit at the New York Jewish Museum that feature models whose closed eyes are painted over by artists Landy Dean and James Kaliardos. Fashion is provided by Rachel Antonoff, a connection we assume came about through the designer’s connection with Simmons’ daughter Lena Dunham. The photographs include two transgender models, Peche Di and Edie Charles, plus one of our longtime favorites, Ajak Deng, whose photograph is also featured on the cover of the current issue of Art News magazine (see below). According to press:
In the exhibit, Laurie Simmons draws on the “Doll Girls” subculture of women who alter themselves with makeup, dress, and even cosmetic surgery to look like Barbie, baby dolls, and anime characters. Evoking the tradition of the high-school portrait, Simmons photographed fashion models seated in front of a curtain, cropped from the shoulders down. Despite the banal pose, each portrait is activated by kaleidoscopic lighting and small, surprising details that produce a nearly psychedelic effect. The girls have preternaturally large, sparkling eyes that are painted on each model’s closed lids, a well-known Doll Girls technique, and stare out at the visitor with an uncanny, alien gaze.
“How We See” opens at the New York Jewish Museum on March 13th and runs through August 9th. Find more images and info on the artist here.
