Artist's Statement:
Step into "Eden," a place where gender is individualized by person and not by society. The natural state of "Eden" allows for the freedom and celebration of the subject's identity outside of a culture that has decreed its own set of rules associated with the expression of femininity and masculinity. Here, I explore the blurring of gender and sex and denounce the binary that assigns distinct roles and attributes to our person.
"Eden" consists of photographs in black and white that feature subjects in nude form. To me, there is nothing closer to the state of natural being than the connection between that of earth and the purity and vulnerability of the human form. The nature settings emphasize that gender fluidity is natural and that strict conformity to the binary is a human-made condition. Also, in stripping everything down, we are able to have a more intimate look at the person presented. Such intimacy invites the viewer to connect with the subject with fewer distractions, who, in "standard society," does not fit the conventional gender norm for their physical sex.
I am also proud to include the written prose of writer, Lee Knauer, in the exhibit. Her work, interspersed among the images, helps to bring the viewer even closer to the subjects, leaving a permanent impression upon one's mind and heart by her delicate balance of words and insight.
It is my hope that the viewer finds appreciation and beauty in the gender diversity of the individuals shown. A greater awareness and acceptance is needed for all fellow humans, and through my lens, I hope to achieve just that.
Bio:
Photographer, Saundra Karol, owns and operates Saundra Karol Photography, a studio focusing primarily on portraiture. She is inspired by the complexities of life, and it is common to see moodier, darker images with an undertone of humor that represents this intricacy in her portfolio.
Much of her inspiration is also fueled by social causes, primarily feminist and gender related. Saundra feels that the camera is a powerful tool that can help to not only raise awareness but also reveal the beauty in people and objects that are so often overlooked.
Raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, Saundra has been a resident of Chicago for eight years.
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