Photography from Niki Lee

Numark's press release:

In Parts, the artist departs from the snapshot depictions of cultural identity for which she has become internationally known to explore how more intimate relationships affect personal identity. As in her previous work, Lee appears in each photograph, which is shot by someone else. Now, however, she carefully stages narrative scenes in which she appears with other performers, typically male companions, who she subsequently cuts out of the picture. The viewer is left to guess the parts that are missing -- the identity of the missing person and the missing holes of the narative story. Although Lee is recognizable in each image, she appears slightly different, emphasizing the artist's interest in the fluidity of identity and the role of personal relationships in one's sense of self.

I believe there are a few key characteristics of the Parts series that should be noted:

1. Lee is present in each image.
2. Lee does not shoot the photograph. Someone else does.
3. Only a portion of what appears to be a male companion is visible in each image.
4. The environment in each shot is different.
5. Lee has chosen to provide three white borders around the image, calling to mind 4x6" prints from Ritz Camera.

Let me discuss each of these points.

1. Lee is present in each image.

By including herself in each shot, she has essentially turned the camera around on herself. For her, photography isn't about capturing the activities of others. She does not want to be merely a bystander. She needs to be involved. This allows her work to be personal. Although all art is personal at some level, Lee has gone a step farther. Had she chosen to simply capture the image of various couples in various environments, she would have been commenting solely on relationships. This would have been outside of herself. By stepping into the frame, to me at least, Lee's work is no longer about relationships per se. Instead, it is an evaluation of self. She forces me to care about her.

2. Lee does not shoot the photograph. Someone else does.

This point enhances #1. Lee's work isn't about the photography. It isn't about producing a technically brilliant image. We don't know who actually snaps the picture - it could be a professional photographer, or it could be a friend. Lee has placed the focus on composition and she has a story to tell. She is too involved with the scene to worry about the execution of the image. I feel that a lot of photographers, and artists in general (myself included), would not be comfortable with allowing someone else to be involved in the process. But Lee doesn't seem to be about process. It's clear that she's about the story.

3. Only a portion of what appears to be a male companion is visible in each image.

This point also builds upon #1. It's clear that Lee is front and center in each shot. She is the center of attention. But, we also know that someone else is with her, but they aren't important enough to include completely. They don't warrant the space. They barely warrant the inclusion of a knee, or an elbow, or a foot. I believe that the person she is with is negligible. It isn't about who he is. Instead, what matters is that he is present with her. When I saw the show, I assumed that she was with different boyfriends. As often happens after a break up, she has cut him out of the picture. However, I don't know why she didn't cut him out fully. Did she not want to remove any of herself? Or could she not bring herself to completely get rid of her old flame? The narrative running through my head while viewing the show agreed with the latter. These guys still held some place in her heart. However, for the viewer, we aren't given enough information to allow us to identify with her companion. Clearly, he means something to her but we don't care about him. We're focused on her and her well-being.

4. The environment in each shot is different.

The scene of Lee's shots varies from an airport, the street, a pool, a shabby living room, etc. This is important in that it suggests that Lee is with a different companion in each shot. It provides a sense of unsettledness in her life. However, it tells me that she is willing to get out of her natural element. Given that Lee was born in South Korea in 1970 and did not move to the U.S. until the mid-90's, we should not be surprised to find her in so many different environments. This suggested to me that Lee was still attempting to find her place in this new country. Perhaps she feels she does not yet have a home and she must try out everything to find her place. Not only is she searching for companionship, she's searching for a life. At least this is how the narrative progressed for me.

5. Lee has chosen to provide three white borders around the image, calling to mind 4x6" prints from Ritz Camera.

This little trick impressed me a great deal, but perhaps I'm easily entertained. Although after viewing the show it seemed so obvious to include such borders, I really felt that this was icing on the cake. Given that John Q. Public often gets 4x6" prints with the same white border, the fact that Lee included them continued the narrative perfectly. Again, she suggests that the photography is not important. What's hanging on the gallery walls is the same print that all of us have except blown up. It provides another reason for us to identify with her struggle and she pulls us into her corner. Further, since the image is cut, we only get to see three of the four borders. Although subtle, this exclusion gives the impression that something isn't right. There is no frame around the photographs and the white border often merges seamlessly into the white wall of the gallery. We know something is off, but at first it's tough to identify what is missing. We can sense that the scene isn't complete.

This show made me feel sad for the artist as the narrative she set up gave me the sense of loneliness. Although always with somebody, it was someone different every time. Lee seemingly had to change the appearance of herself to find acceptance from a man. In some cases she seems very happy, in others quite sad. She isn't being true to herself. Clearly something is missing in her life and she is trying to fill that void with the company of a man. I want to reach out to her and help her find herself before she attempts a new relationship. I feel that she has created a cycle of disappointment but one day she will break that cycle. It's as if this series is building to a climax that we don't get to see. Someday, Lee will learn who she is. She will learn what she wants out of life and who she wants to be with. While not looking for companionship, she'll find it and be content. Lee has set up this cycle for us. It's left to us to finish the story. How long will the cycle continue? I think she'll break free of it soon.

Maybe then she'll put the scissors away.



Article resource:thinking about art blog