photography

Your Chexy attended the L.A. Photo Show held earlier this month, where this photo absolutely floored me — from the wonderful mind of photographer Liz Steketee (pronounced “Steketee”).

Liz uses images from her own family’s history, digitally manipulated with other images, to rewrite her own history as it suits her. The idea fascinates me. The above photo is one of her relatives (an aunt, if I recall correctly), with her son’s face superimposed on the image. It is so stunning and arresting, I had to stop to talk with her. Here is the description of her “Reconstructed Memories” series in her words, from her website:

“Reconstructed Memories is a unique print series that uses my personal family photographs to rewrite history from my vantage point. By choosing unrelated images and digitally manipulating them into unlikely combinations, I build new memories. I forge new relationships, address old confrontations, imagine difference experiences, and face old demons. I disrupt linear narratives and recompose events, establishing my family history as a construct. Once these new snapshots have been finalized digitally, they are printed, aged and weathered according to their appropriate time period. This rebuilding of memory has allowed me to establish my own version of reality, as I prefer it. Reconstructed Memories takes the form of a unique print series as well as a series of reconstructed “false” family photo albums that adhere to my revisionist history.”

The above image is another breathtaking shot from the Reconstructed Memories series. The idea of manipulating one’s own visual history is so compelling! What would you do with yours?!

See the rest of this captivating series by Liz Steketee here. Be sure to check out her “American Snapshots” as well.

By kind permission of Liz Steketee

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