This exhibition examines the invasive act of photography and challenges common ideas of privacy and propriety. It 'explores how our definitions of respect, vulnerability and security have shifted over time, altering our understanding of what it means to look and be looked at'.
"The Unseen Photographer"
This first section shows us how photography can reveal a person's unawareness of being watched or looked at when they have their guard down.
Walker Evans's "Subway Passengers" were taken on NYC underground trains to record the natural, unaware faces of the people around him.
Some of the 20th century's most important photographers exploit the camera's ability to create images without the knowledge of some of their subjects. Artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson photographed people from above which produces great visual effects, while others such as Lee Friedlander and Harry Calahan take photographs from behind the unaware subject.
Hyeres, France 1932 - Henri Cartier-Bresson
NYC 1966 - Lee Friedlander
Celebrity and the Public Gaze
Portable cameras and faster shutter speeds created opportunities for capturing the subjects off-guard. Photographers are more able to capture famous subjects in their embarrassing and private moments.
Ron Galella - one of the most notorious paparazzi, devoted to the image taking of celebrities for publication in the press.
Voyeurism & Desire
Sexual or erotic images have been made throughout the history of photography. Many of these images consist of subjects depicting illicit and intimate acts. These images seem to position the viewer in the role of an intruder. These photographs encourage the viewer to question who was looking and why and whether we should collude with, or reject this point of view.
"Self Portrait with Wife June and Model" by Helmut Newton
In contrast to Newton's polished images, the images of Mirozlav Tichy have a grainy, blurry quality (similar to a charcoal drawing) which gives a home-made feel, preserving the frisson of their production. He stalked the streets and swimming baths of his home town with a home-made camera.
Witnessing Violence
The photographs in this section show witness and documentation of violent events and deaths by unnatural causes, shocking the viewer by allowing us to witness the suffering of the victim.
Weegee's photographs of curious bystanders in NYC depict their morbid fascination with death by unnatural causes. These photographs raise questions about the ethics of depicting the moment of death.
"Dead Man Lying on a Garage Ramp" by Letizia Battaglia
This image was particularly striking and makes the viewer question who this man is and what had happened to him. The quality of his body has a grim fascination, his limbs still and lifeless and blood pooling around his head. He is lying face down on the ground, which further encourages the viewer to question his identity.
Surveillance
The surveillance camera has been used for security purposes. Techniques of surveillance are closely linked to the developments in photographic technology, from surveillance cameras at street corners and shops to wed-based tools such as satellite technology.
"Isolation Room CBP" 2005 - Richard Ross
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