TOUCH / do we exist without photography:
featuring the work of Kris Sanford, Andrés Pérez, and Matthew Finley
September 19 to November 24, 2024
© Matthew Finley
Kris Sanford, Andrés Pérez, and Matthew Finley all use photographic archives to weave narratives that should be an integral part to our societal record without a past of collective marginalization and fear. In each case, the artists weave vintage photographs into queer narratives of historical representation.
Opening Reception
Thursday, September 19th, 6pm – 8pm
About the Artists, Kris Sanford, Andrés Pérez, and Matthew Finley
Kris Sanford: Through the Lens of Desire
“Through the Lens of Desire creates implied narratives using snapshots from the 1920s- 1950s. Vernacular photographs from that era were created as private keepsakes and the unselfconscious intimacy they depict feels authentic and relatable. As modern viewers, we witness personal moments that were never intended to be public. By purposefully selecting images that picture men together and women together I am creating an imaginary queer past. I am drawn to the subtle points of contact and the spaces between the figures pictured. Each gesture or distracted glance holds a story, and it is these stories that reflect my own desire and experiences.”
Kris Sanford grew up in southeast Michigan. She received a BFA in photography from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and an MFA in photography from Arizona State University. Her art explores relationships through the use of appropriated images, video, and text.
Andrés Pérez: Dead Family
“Dead Family is an investigation that looks at the family archive as a binary historical document that protects heteronormative narratives imposed by patriarchal structures. These impositions imply a sexist order that separates the masculine from the feminine and marginalizes identities that are outside of this political-biological mechanism. Diverse identities have no visibility in the action of “family portraiture.” “
Andrés Pérez (Venezuela, b.1993) is a photographer and non-binary visual artist. He studied art and film at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. This visual hybrid is the result of the union between his creativity and political interests.
Matthew Finley: An Impossibly Normal Life
“Imagine a world where it doesn’t matter who you love, just that you love. An Impossibly Normal Life is an artifact from another world, a more loving, inclusive one where who you love is of little societal importance. This fictional story, centered on my imagined uncle’s idealized life, is created from collected vintage snapshots from around the world.”
Matthew Finley (b. 1972) uses his photography to express himself and connect to the world around him. With a variety of photography processes, he explores intimate emotions through gesture and line to communicate his experience.
Questions?
For questions about this exhibition, please contact Exhibitions
Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator, exhibits@hcponline.org or 713-529-4755, ext 16.