The BFA and MFA Photography Exhibition opened on Saturday, September 28th at the Schomburg Gallery at Bergamot Station, Los Angeles. This is the largest turnout of a photography exhibition in the school’s history.
The group exhibition is entitled “Syzygy” which is defined as a pair of connected or corresponding things. Themes varied from racism, violence, the pollution of food, explorations of a runaway Indian bride in New York, and strippers in Palm Springs.
Kingi Kingibe, from Nigeria, explored the devastating effects of cotton; from its role in the enslavement of African American people to its damaging effects on the planet. Kingibe frames actual cotton plants in gold and transfers stunning portraits of Black women in vintage cotton clothing onto actual raw cotton. His exhibit juxtaposes the ubiquity of cotton with its barbaric origins.
Ziomara Ramirez, from Los Angeles, in her ongoing project, “The Last Time”, explores photography’s relationship to death. In her haunting urban nightscapes, Ramirez takes photos during the same time and at the same location that her subject died. Most of her subjects are young Hispanic and Black men. All their cases remain unsolved.
Wen Tao Tu, from China, created still-life photos using food that has been affected by pollution. He used dyes, inks, needles, and syrup to raise challenging questions about how GMO vegetables and hormone-fed meat threatens our health. Tu contrasts these upsetting narratives by placing his contaminated still life photos on colorful and commercial backdrops, evoking the deception of advertising.
The New York Film Academy would like to thank everyone who attended the gallery and supported our students. Congratulations to all of the graduates. We look forward to attending your next gallery event.
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