FLESH: Portraits by Gary Schneider

FLESH: Portraits by Gary Schneider

As I walked into the ‘Flesh’ section of the MOPA gallery, a feeling came over me as if I was walking through a room of x-rays, possibly in a hospital or medical conservatory. I couldn’t fathom that these were actual photographs, realizing my inexperience of developmental processes of photography. As I viewed each photograph, one by one came alive.

The most amazing photograph categorized in the Genetic Self Portrait section of the collection was that of a strand of hair (Hair, 1997). This image offers many views of texture with twisted fibers; bringing a threadlike object into an enlarged powerful connection into reality, close up and personal.

Another photograph I enjoyed viewing in Schneider’s collection was the family tree of handprints. Each handprint had its own characteristics featuring family members born from 1925 to 2002: mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, sisters, brothers, and spouses. This is where Schneider’s talent came alive, also mirroring so many similarities within each handprint, even similarities amongst complete strangers. (Family Tree: Hands, 1925-2002).

Gary Schneider’s artistic talent unveils, connecting human characteristics of commonality, put into a visual perspective with his unique procedures of photography. From rendering of platinum prints to gelatin silver prints, Schneider’s collection will fascinate many. 

Rita Lizcano

 

Gary Schneider: Hair, 1997 (Gelatin Silver Print)