Taryn Simon

[collectorofart]

Saw her show 'PAPERWORK AND THE WILL OF CAPITAL' at Gagosian Chelsea this week. I was blown away by the detail in her photo essays, her narrative is so extensive and leaves no stone unturned. 



"In Paperwork and the Will of Capital, Simon examines accords, treaties, and decrees drafted to influence systems of governance and economics, from nuclear armament to oil deals and diamond trading. All involve the countries present at the 1944 United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, which addressed the globalization of economics after World War II, leading to the establishment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. In images of the signings of these documents, powerful men flank floral centerpieces designed to underscore the importance of the parties present. Simon’s photographs of the recreated centerpieces from these signings, together with their stories, underscore how the stagecraft of political and economic power is created, performed, marketed, and maintained."

Her website is here, take a look at 'A Living Man Declared Dead' as well: tarynsimon.com/works/almdd/#1

[treweman]

It is much appreciated that you started this thread and shared your thoughts, hxfour. I've followed Taryn's career since the 2007 publication of her brilliant book An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar. I do have a question for you ... why did you include the thread in the Contemporary Art category rather than Photography? While I must admit that much of my admiration of her work is as much about her research and written observations, she is, in the end, a photographer.

[collectorofart]

as a former commercial photographers rep, I tended to represent photography as a medium in contemporary art, and not its own category completely. And also your point stands, especially with this particular show, where Taryn showed photos, and also sculpture. She displayed her beautiful photographs along with the deeds or treaty signed, in gorgeous custom mahogany framing, taking it a bit out of traditional photography and into more of a mixed media.