Dona Popa

Not Natasha

image title: untitled

exhibition: 5^th of February – 18th April

The girl appears uncomfortable and uneasy within an environment that reveals no apparent destination (possibly a day trip), she appears reserved as she remains fully clothed while the male within the image stands wearing only his underwear. The photograph appears to be a scan of another image suggesting that it may have been taken at an earlier point in the girl’s life (perhaps at a happier time or as a free woman). Suggests the woman has since been trafficked.

The original photograph was shot with no intention of being show within an exhibition environment. The photograph is shot in colour with no apparent consideration to composition suggesting that it was taken mealy to record an event (memorable). The male drinking within the image also reinforces the idea of a happier time (perhaps a celebration). Shot in colour the image automatically become slightly more personal as it bears no resemblance to the gritty black and white images we would normally associate with documentary photography.

The format appears to be standard 35mm which reinforces the close–ness within the image, it is also the format people are most comfortable with suggesting aging that this is not a staged or posed photograph.

The photographs are presented with areas of white wall between them that allows the images to be read almost like a book, it also suggests gaps between verbal communication (telling a story and pausing before moving onto the next sentence) it allows the viewer to identify specific individual stories and creates a personal interaction with each image.

Jerome