QUESTIONING REALITY — JULIA EDELMAN

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Innocence

The young child in “Innocence” has already begun the process of altering her natural form as part of a cultural practice.

Tune In

My subject’s location and self-expression cause the viewer to question her authenticity.

Girl in the City

“Girl in the City” portrays how characters who are indeed real are capable of appearing surreal.

Silver Man

In “Silver Man,” depicting a man who has painted himself to look like a statue, the subject of the photo is real, yet, in trying to imitate a lifeless version of himself, appears to be fake.

Look at Yourself

I transition from images of real subjects to images that blend aspects of reality with attempts to depict reality.

Reflections

When Barbie looks in the mirror, she sees a real-life version of herself staring back at her. Even a Barbie doll, the vision of a supposedly ideal woman, is unable to see herself as perfect.

Boxed

The desire to achieve an elusive standard is driven home in “Boxed.” While the model shares qualities with the supposedly ideal woman, she is considered insufficient in comparison to her fake counterpart. Women who do not share any of these characteristics are further marginalized and undervalued. No woman, regardless of her features, will ever be considered good enough when evaluated based on the unattainable.

Torn

In “Torn,” a composite of two half-faces, one human and one Barbie, both subjects share the same characteristics, yet the model possesses unique qualities that make her human, which the doll cannot depict.

Imitation Game

“Imitation Game” sets up the dichotomy between real and fake as well. However, even the statue is subject to time’s decay, making it noticeably imperfect. The viewer sees a flawed version of something expected to be without defect, whereas the imperfect human is accepted as simply human.

Echo

Women of the Kayan tribe wear brass coils appearing to lengthen their necks. Kayan girls begin to wear rings when they are around five years old, as illustrated in “Innocence,” and the coils are replaced by longer ones over the years. In “Echo,” I compare a Kayan woman to a doll she has made to represent the women of her culture.

Spitting Image

“Spitting Image” juxtaposes nearly identical subjects, inviting the viewer to question what makes the real one seem real.

Better Together

The concept of real vs. not real is presented in a group setting in “Better Together,” in which I compare Barbies, depicting the widely accepted yet unrealistic standard of the ideal woman, to their more diverse and engaging real-life counterparts. By illustrating the beauty of diversity, I hope to help create a world in which women from all backgrounds and walks of life are finally celebrated as they are.