What is the appearance of the family? Sally Mann, the American photographer who won the “America’s best photographer”, is best known for her “Immediate Family” series published in 1992. Although this series of works made her famous, because of the naked theme, the children’s far-sighted eyes and adult-like gestures, she has been controversial, which has aroused widespread concern in society. Even so, this series of photos of the growth of two daughters Jessie, Virginia and son Emmett still exudes a nostalgic atmosphere.
People are very strange. They like to frame themselves in a limitation and to negate the ideas outside the box. This is often seen in art. Therefore, many times later art is not art, but sin, and controversy arises.
In the process of searching, I saw a lot of thoughts about Sally Mann’s criticism and approval, but I believe that the starting point of these photos is good things, even if there are a few flaws, it is the privacy of Sally Mann’s intimate family.
It is so nostalgic, perhaps because of the factors that are photographed by antique cameras, from old tones, or because the time for children to grow up is gone! Those moments are as evanescent as touching the angel wings. In fact, only 13 of the works she shot were showing the child’s nude, and the nakedness was not the subject she wanted to express. She never realized what children’s eroticism was in the filming, and it was natural for her to show her child’s body. Although there is a wide range of themes and techniques, for most people, she is still the one who shoots her child’s nakedness.
In my opinion, as an art student, these photos are like pure Eden for me. There is no extra outside interference. The naked ones are natural things, but the viewers are willing to face them. The information on the Internet tells the story of the daughter she grew up with. She said that she likes the photos taken by her mother, but at the same time it is caused by the publicity of the photos, even the relationship between mother and daughter. Also caused some tension.
For the children’s photography, the children stopped working when they grew up. The reason was that they needed more privacy and space, but they didn’t stop Sally Mann’s photography career. She still took another shot and took pictures of the body to shoot the civil war. Make more outstanding works.
Dog Scratches, 1991 ／“Immediate Family” © Sally Mann via https://www.artsy.net/
All this reminds me of a French movie, My Little Princess. It is, in fact, a story of love between the famous French female photographer Irina Ionesco and her female Eva Ionesco. In the film, Hannah suffered from the inspiration of photography creation, and it was a coincidence that she induced her daughter to appear as a model. She makes her daughter Violet dressed as a princess doll with gorgeous makeup and a demon style, in an attempt to renew her career.
Walking in the ranks of girls of the same age, Violet seems to be out of place. In the age of other girls who are obsessed with the swan princess and the pink doll, Violet already knows the position of the dagger, and what kind of eyes and movements are used to best please the man. In school, she became the core of attention because of mature dressing. In her consciousness, seduce does not exist, sex is blank, mature charm is “fun”, and love has no future. Mother’s pursuit of art or vanity surpasses the love of children, while young children have no ability to recognize and express.
The ending of the movie is a tragedy, and Sally Mann’s relationship with the children in real life is not very optimistic neither. Although her photos made me feel amazed, I still feel that it is not worth it. Photographers and models should respect each other. Maybe the photographers are not out of vanity in their hearts, maybe just took photos because of the demands of art, but if the works will have such a negative impact on the lives of others, especially for the innocent children, this art is actually making me doubtful. For me, Sally Mann’s photos are beautiful arts; for her children, the photos could be a burden for their whole life.