Katelyn Curtis Post 4

INTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHS OF TINY CREATURES IN HUMAN HANDS

Tamara Lischka

By: Katelyn Curtis

"When I was a child I occasionally found Mermaid’s Purses – egg cases for sharks and skates which had washed up on the beach. I wanted to open the purses, to find out if the leathery sacks actually contained a baby shark or not, but spent long minutes filled with anxiety about what I would see if I did. Would the fish still be alive? Would it squirm or move? Having destroyed its haven, could I really just stand there and watch the fetus die? Eventually such thoughts eclipsed all curiosity, and so I always put the purse back down on the sand and left it undisturbed.

In the past my work has held its secrets close, literally enclosed in the sculptural spaces created by curled fingers and closing hands… But now the hands are beginning to open, long sequestered thoughts and feelings finally examined and revealed. Fetus, fish, squid – the lifeless bodies of these creatures appear eerily animate, even grotesque out of context. Yet the hands that hold them nurture as much as they expose, fingers curving around the tiny forms, even as they lift them gently up into the light."

^Definitely a huge insight into her work and well worth the read. 

Tamara Lischka is a Portland based photographer that has participated in solo exhibitions throughout the United States. Had to dig up some research on her and discovered she has her BA from Reed College. She had created this photos by gelatin silver prints and I still cannot keep wondering how she had access to this specimens. At first glance I wondered if they were real, still alive, how did she find them? These photos remind me when I was a child being curious when I found blue jay eggs and was quickly scorned for trying to touch them. Not sure if I could personally go through with the photos, but the concept is really captivating. Would love to have some comments on your thoughts about her.