Laura Heyman (NY)
The Photographer’s Wife
Space Preference: Museum or Commercial Gallery, Non-profit Art Space, Commercial Space, University Gallery, Artist Run

Artist Statement
The images in this series present a female subject gazing intimately at the camera, suggesting that the artist is making images of their lover.  As I embody both roles at once, this creates a fictionalized photographer as well as a fictionalized subject.  The model/subject’s job is always performative – she must be able to portray not only the “true self,” but also the ideal. In the case of these photographs, however, the problem is slightly more complicated.  As the model/subject, I must convey not only the true self and the ideal, but also reflect back to the viewer an imagined photographer/husband.

Changes in the model’s physical appearance are presented in relation to the emotional shifts in power that take place in any long-term collaboration of this type.  In making use of this visual trope, I appropriate the male gaze and examine the history of images made by male artists of their wives and lovers.  More specifically, I reference portraits of Edith Gowin, Eleanor Callahan, and Maria Friedlander while playing with various photographic conventions, such as travel and sensual imagery.

For both artist and model, the act of portrayal is one of transport, a way to slip into another world.  In this space photography becomes a sort of travel, and through it, both parties are transformed.  Part of the exchange between artist and model is the process of imposing one identity on another; ultimately, these images illustrate the artist’s desire to own his subject, and the subject’s dual need to exploit and resist that desire.

Captions

1. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2005, chromagenic print, 32”x28”
2. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2004, chromagenic print, 32”x28”
3. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2005, chromagenic print, 32”x28”
4. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2004, chromagenic print, 28”x32”
5. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2005, chromagenic print, 28”x32”
6. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2006, chromagenic print, 32”x28”
7. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2006, chromagenic print, 32”x28”
8. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2004, chromagenic print, 28”x32”
9. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2005, chromagenic print, 28”x32”
10. Laura Heyman, Untitled, from the series THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S WIFE, 2006, chromagenic print, 32”x28”

Number of Images: unknown